Present

Chairman Jerome Theobald; Vice-Chairman John Haggarty; Treasurer John Feik; Assistant Secretary George Firmstone; Dan Guinther, Plant Superintendent; Tammy Jensen, Administration; Mary Peters, Engineer; Solicitor Anthony Magnotta

Absent

Assistant Treasurer James Brennan, Secretary James LaPoint

Visitors

None

Pledge of Allegiance

Chairman Theobald called the meeting to order. The Board discussed reorganization for 2022.

Motion

On a motion made by John Haggarty and seconded by John Feik the Board approved retaining all positions on the Board as previously held in 2021.

Jerome Theobald – Chairman; John Haggarty – Vice Chairman; James LaPoint – Secretary; John Feik – Treasurer; George Firmstone – Assistant Secretary; James Brennan – Assistant Treasurer

Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Firmstone, Yes                              Mr. Feik, Yes                                       Mr. LaPoint, Absent

Mr. Haggarty, Yes                               Mr. Theobald, Yes                               Mr. Brennan, Absent

Motion

On a motion made by George Firmstone and seconded by John Feik the Board approved retaining Entech Engineering, Inc. as Authority Engineer, and Anthony Magnotta as Authority Solicitor.  Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Feik, Yes                                       Mr. LaPoint, Absent                            Mr. Haggarty, Yes

Mr. Theobald, Yes                               Mr. Brennan, Absent                           Mr. Firmstone, Yes

Motion

On a motion made by John Haggarty and seconded by John Feik the Board approved the December 20, 2021, meeting minutes as presented.  Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. LaPoint, Absent                Mr. Haggarty, Yes                               Mr. Theobald, Yes

Mr. Brennan, Absent               Mr. Firmstone, Yes                              Mr. Feik, Yes

Solicitor’s Report

• Gunuskey License Agreement: There is no change from my last report.  I am still waiting finalization of the Deed of Easement with the Gunuskey family.
• Northeast Infrastructure, LLC/Cherry Ridge Realty, Inc.:  I have no additional correspondence from Attorney Bugaj or a proposed Deed of Dedication or Deed of Easement.
• Crestmont Sewer Main Replacement Project: Counsel and I have executed the necessary documents to start the financing through RUS. USDA has approved the documents.
• White Mills Litigation: There is no change from my last report.

Engineer’s Report

1. 1) 2021 Chapter 94 report
2. Proposal - $3,400
3. Report due March 31, 2022
   1. 2) CRESTMONT SEWER MAIN PROJECT
   2. USDA Funding
      1. Owner-Engineer’s Agreement Revisions
      2. Owner-Engineer’s Agreement – Amendment 1 - $23,000
      3. Design
         1. Bidding - Contingent on RUS Review
         2. Permits
            1. PennDOT Permit – Issued
            2. NPDES Stormwater - Submitted
            3. Borough Road Opening Permit - Issued
   3. 3) Church street sewer main replacement
   4. Permits
      1. PennDOT – Received Comments

(1)  Sidewalk – Waiting on Correspondence from Property Owners

1. 4) WHITE MILLS SEWER INSTALLATION PROJECT (USDA RUS)
2. Outstanding Items:
   1. USDA Close Out
   2. 5) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTs (PENNVEST)
   3. DEP Final Inspection occurred 12/16/2021
      1. 2018 Sewer Main Replacement
      2. Cliff Street Area
      3. Lackawaxen River Rehabilitation Project
      4. SBR Rehabilitation Project
   4. 6) toxic reduction evaluation study
      1. Kleinfelder TRE Final Report Submitted to DEP – No Response to Date

An update regarding the PennDOT vehicle wash in Indian Orchard was received via email from Nicholaus Sahd at Gannett Fleming. The revised Sewage Facility Planning Application has been submitted to the Texas Township Supervisors for approval and execution of the resolution of adoption. The CWRA Board questioned as to why the Authority was not provided the revisions. The Authority signed off on the original submission in 2020, but have not seen the revised application. Mary Peters will contact Gannett Fleming to discuss the matter.

Motion

On a motion made by  George Firmstone and seconded by John Haggarty the Board approved a contract with Entech Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $3,400.00 for the 2021 Chapter 94 Report. Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Haggarty, Yes                               Mr. Theobald, Yes                               Mr. Brennan, Absent

Mr. Firmstone, Yes                              Mr. Feik, Yes                                       Mr. LaPoint, Absent

Motion

On a motion made by John Feik and seconded by George Firmstone the Board approved the Engineer Agreement Certification revisions for the Crestmont Street Area Sewer Main Replacement Projects reallocating funds between Basic Services and Resident Project Observation; and the Amendment to Owner-Engineer Agreement in the additional amount of $23,000 for design and permitting services. Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Theobald, Yes                               Mr. Brennan, Absent                           Mr. Firmstone, Yes

Mr. Feik, Yes                                       Mr. LaPoint, Absent                            Mr. Haggarty, Yes

Plant Report

• The monthly discharge monitoring and plant reports were reviewed. 
• The VFD in the headworks building that controls the pump burnt out and pump 4 kicked six breakers. Entech is reviewing the situation with the Authority. The backup battery was bad that the monitor was plugged into. All the backup batteries have been replaced. The VFD is only 1 ½ years old and will be submitted for possible warranty coverage. Northend Electric installed a new VFD. The flows at the plant were low at the time.
• The screen that was ordered for the headworks building is being rebuilt and should ship by the end of the month. The repair will be scheduled then with JWC.
• The Vac Unit will be an additional 6-8 weeks for delivery.
• The CWRA employees have been exercising the collection system valves.  They have found no major problems. 212 valve checks have been completed.  
• The Boiler in the maintenance garage needs a low water cutoff device installed in order to pass Labor & Industry inspection.  
• A discussion was held regarding the companies that haul sewage into the plant. Costs and contracts were discussed. Mary and Dan are going to look into agreements.

Administration Report

• The monthly invoices and financial reports were reviewed.
• 75 delinquent sewer rent letters have been sent this month totaling $18,596.69.
• One Municipal Lien totaling $368.06 will be filed with the Wayne County Prothonotary.
• One Municipal lien in the amount of $368.17 will be removed.
• Nine accounts are scheduled for water termination on February 17, 2022.
• Correspondence was received from the owners of 523 Old Willow Ave, Honesdale regarding the one EDU assigned to the building. The building will be split into two separate businesses with separate entrances. Authority Rules & Regulations require two EDUs for the building. The property owners will be contacted in order to obtain a permit for an additional EDU.

Motion

On a motion made by John Feik and seconded by John Haggarty the Board approved the monthly invoices for payment as presented. Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Brennan, Absent                           Mr. Firmstone, Yes                              Mr. Feik, Yes

Mr. LaPoint, Absent                            Mr. Haggarty, Yes                               Mr. Theobald, Yes

Motion

On a motion made by George Firmstone and seconded by John Haggarty the Board approved the revised 2022 Authority General Operating Budget as presented. Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Firmstone, Yes                              Mr. Feik, Yes                                       Mr. LaPoint, Absent

Mr. Haggarty, Yes                               Mr. Theobald, Yes                               Mr. Brennan, Absent

Motion

On a motion made by John Haggarty and seconded by George Firmstone the Board approved Resolution No. 01-24-2022-01 Destruction of Specific Record as per the Pennsylvania Municipal Records Manual. Records are from 2014-2020.  Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Feik, Yes                                       Mr. LaPoint, Absent                            Mr. Haggarty, Yes

Mr. Theobald, Yes                               Mr. Brennan, Absent                           Mr. Firmstone, Yes

Motion

On a motion made by John Haggarty and seconded by George Firmstone the Board approved a contract with Bradly T. Murray CPA LLC for the 2021 Authority Audit in the amount of $9,500.00. Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. LaPoint, Absent                            Mr. Haggarty, Yes                               Mr. Theobald, Yes

Mr. Brennan, Absent                           Mr. Firmstone, Yes                              Mr. Feik, Yes

Motion

On a motion made by George Firmstone and seconded by John Feik the Board approved transferring the Authority’s cell phone service from Verizon Wireless to AT&T/FirstNet effective immediately. Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Haggarty, Yes                               Mr. Theobald, Yes                               Mr. Brennan, Absent

Mr. Firmstone, Yes                              Mr. Feik, Yes                                       Mr. LaPoint, Absent

Motion

On a motion made by George Firmstone and seconded by John Feik the Board approved the revision of the Authority’s January 24, 2022, meeting agenda to include the discussion and motion for a vendor agreement with The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Theobald, Yes                               Mr. Brennan, Absent                           Mr. Firmstone, Yes

Mr. Feik, Yes                                       Mr. LaPoint, Absent                            Mr. Haggarty, Yes

A discussion was held regarding the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services that began on January 4, 2022. The program can help eligible customers with arrears on their sewer rental accounts up to $2,500.00. The Authority will notify their customers of the program, which also includes water accounts.

Motion

On a motion made by John Haggarty and seconded by George Firmstone the Board approved the LIHWAP vendor agreement between the Authority and the PA Dept. of Human Services.  Motion carried.

Roll Call

Mr. Brennan, Absent                           Mr. Firmstone, Yes                              Mr. Feik, Yes

Mr. LaPoint, Absent                            Mr. Haggarty, Yes                               Mr. Theobald, Yes

The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for February 28, 2022.

Tammy Jensen, Acting Secretary