Wednesday, July 30, 2014

JULY 30, 2014 ECWSA MINUTES

Evans City Water and Sewer Authority Meeting
30 July 2014

·         Call to order: The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman, Ed Tanski at 6:12 p.m.
·         Members present: Tim Schoeffel, Vito Pilosi, Ed Tanski, Joe Weltner, and Cheri Deener.
·         Others present: Philip Lope, Esquire. Kevin Wilmot and Dan Dow, HRG.  Laura Kamienski, Office Manager. Norm Nelson, Director of Public Works

·         Public Session: This meeting was open to the public.  

·         Minutes: Review of minutes from July 08, 2014.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to approve July 08, 2014 minutes as presented.
Seconded by Joe Weltner.  Unanimously approved.

·         Communications: No Report
·         Chairman’s Report: No Report

·         Review Bills
§  Discussion of engineering invoice pertaining to Callery Borough.
§  All Callery expenses are recorded in a separate general ledger account.

Motion by Ed Tanski to pay bills as presented.
Seconded by Cheri Deener.  Unanimously approved.

·         Review Past Due Accounts
§  New billing structure has run one full cycle. A number of customers have expressed confusion about the overlap of billing and shut off notices, but overall the system is working well and customers are pleased.
§  72 shut off notices for nonpayment of May’s billing were sent on July 15th. This number is higher than usual due to the changes in the billing structure. 
§  20 accounts were terminated. 2 remain off at the property owner’s request.
§  In addition to administrative costs, it took more than four hours to shut off delinquent accounts. Notice fees and account reactivation fees are compensating for the amount of labor involved in account terminations.
§  Property owners are aware that an entire building will be terminated if one rental unit becomes delinquent. Overall, property owners with rental properties are pleased with the new billing structure and duplicate billing option.
§  Customers are being made aware that billing structure explanation sheets are available at the office or online.
§  Some customers are confused by the alternate month estimation process. This process is on par with other utilities estimation systems. Laura Kamienski recommends that she compose a newsletter article with an explanation of the process.
§  There were 18 payments made via the eNETPAY system in July.
§  A payment plan agreement for delinquent accounts is now in place. This agreement was reviewed by Lope Law Office.
§  Dayne Long has signed a payment plan agreement and made first payment to reestablish service.

·         Administrative Report: Laura Kamienski
§  Discussion about adding additional fees for rental properties due to the amount of work involved in maintaining these accounts. At present there are no fees and these accounts are classified as residential.
§  Review of aged receivables.
§  There has been no new activity on First States collections from delinquent accounts.
§  Review and discussion regarding the new procedure for customer account adjustments and credits.
§  Overview of the new meter reading system. It is working very well.
§  Discussion regarding local government agency customer accounts billing. A bill will be generated and credited each month for accounting purposes.
§  Discussion regarding Dwayne Biggs property at 222 Franklin. Account was sent to collections, but the property is vacant and up for sale. Since no bill is being generated, a lien will be filed against property. Resume minimum billing on account.
§  Discussion regarding what the water account owes the sewer account and the possibility of combining these into one water & sewer account. Transfers will be caught up two months at a time until settled.
§  Review of an HRG error on Requisition 7 contractor request for payment.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to correct the payee from Centrysis to Pipeline Systems, Inc. Seconded by Joe Weltner. Unanimously approved.

§  Discussion regarding invoice from First Energy. Frank Orrico will be invited to the next authority meeting to present electricity options.

·         Committees
§  Rules & Regulations: No report
§  Accounts & Transactions: No report
§  Budget
üDiscussion regarding budgeting labor hours for water & sewer.
§  New Sewer Plant Project
üNext progress meeting is scheduled for August 6th at 3:00 p.m. at the construction site. Meeting will be held at the Evans City Borough Building in case of rain.
§  Cooperation Committee
üTim Schoeffel is in contact with Lee Dyer regarding the first and second quarter shared expenses invoices.
üA meeting is needed to discuss revisions to the shared expenses given the Authority’s relocation.

§  BASF
üDiscussion regarding ongoing communications to establish a new industrial user agreement. Vito Pilosi to follow up.
üBASF is currently being billed under our established industrial user rates.

·         Website / Public Relations: No report.

·         Public Works Director Report
§  Replaced the main pump and blower motor at the old sewer plant with back up units.
§  Discussion regarding overall condition of old sewer plant.
§  Maintenance crew is pleased with the new meter book reading procedure.
§  NPDES Permit needs to be renewed by June 2015
§  A water break at Harrison was repaired.
§  Two meters were replaced.
§  Norm Nelson is working with HRG on plans for water line replacements.

·         Solicitor’s Report: No Report

·         Engineering Report: Kevin Wilmot, HRG.
§  Discussion on details for Pipeline System’s change order.
§  Review of project contingency fund.
§  Review of construction schedule, deadlines and progress.

§  WWTP Project Bond Requisition #8
üHerbert, Rowling & Grubic invoice 99589 - $20,286.76
üContract 13-04, Xylem application for payment #5 - $175,700.00
üContract 13-07, Mid Atlantic Storage application for payment #7 -  $59,665.77
üContract 13-08, Pipeline Systems, Inc. application for payment #5 - $164,135.84
üContract 13-09, Reno Brothers, Inc. application for payment #1 - $1,666.80
üContract 13-10, Penn-Ohio Electrical application for payment #3 - $7,035.79
üTotal for Bond Requisition #8 - $428,490.96

Motion by Cheri Deener to approve payment for HRG invoice 99589 in the amount of
$20, 286.76. Seconded by Vito Pilosi. Unanimously approved.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to approve payment for Contract 13-04, #5 in the amount of $175,700.00. Seconded by Joe Weltner. Unanimously approved.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to approve payment for Contract 13-07, #7 in the amount of $59,665.77. Seconded by Cheri Deener. Unanimously approved.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to approve payment for Contract 13-08, #5 in the amount of $164,135.84. Seconded by Joe Weltner. Unanimously approved.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to approve payment for Contract 13-09, #1 in the amount of $1,666.80. Seconded by Joe Weltner. Unanimously approved.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to approve payment for Contract 13-10, #3 in the amount of $7,035.79. Seconded by Cheri Deener. Unanimously approved.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to make payments for Bond Requisition #8 in the amount of $428,490.96. Seconded by Joe Weltner. Unanimously approved.

§  Quarterly report on plant construction has been submitted.
§  Water line replacement of Sandy Lane culvert by PennDOT. PennDOT has preliminary plans. Keven Wilmot recommends providing paperwork to recoup costs under a PennDOT reimbursement program.

Motion by Vito Pilosi to approver HRG’s proposal for engineering services for the PennDOT culvert replacement project at Mars Evans City Road and May Lane at an estimated cost of $13,000.00
Seconded by Joe Weltner. Unanimously approved.

Moved to closed session at 7:50 p.m.

Return from closed session at 8:35 p.m.

Motion to adjourn by Joe Weltner to adjourn.
 Seconded by Cheri Deener. Unanimously approved.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.




















Minutes Prepared by Laura Kamienski
Cc Tim Schoeffel,  Vito Pilosi,  Ed Tanski,  Joe Weltner,  Cheri Deener,  and Philip Lope