Following are the minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of the Lambertville Sewerage Authority held at the site of the wastewater treatment facility on June 3, 2008 commencing at 5:00 P.M.
Present for the meeting were Rick Buscavage, Chairman; Vice Chairman, Janine MacGregor; Secretary Frank Kramer and Robert Hayes, Alternate One.
Also present were C. Gregory Watts, Esq.; Watts, Tice and Skowronek, James Meehan, Executive Director and Steve Ryan of Bowman and Company.
Absent were Irving Gerb, Treasurer; Robert Hayes, Alternate One and Eric Richard, Alternate Two.
The Statement of Compliance was read aloud by Chairman Buscavage who also led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
In the audience were Jeffrey Casaletto, Councilman from the Borough of Stockton and Michael Hagerty, Stockton Borough Council President.
MINUTES: The minutes of the May 6, 2008 meeting were approved as presented in a motion made by Secretary Kramer and seconded by Vice Chairman MacGregor with a unanimous roll call vote by the Board.
CORRESPONDENCE: A thank you note was received from the Lambertville-New Hope Rescue squad for the use of the pumping station at Swan Street to perform a mandatory drill for their personnel.
Chairman Buscavage brought to the attention of the Board that a donation was made in the amount of $250.00 to Susan B. Gorman Breast Cancer Awareness.
Alternate One Hayes entered the meeting 5:15 P.M.
ENGINEERS REPORT: Executive Director Meehan stated that CDM looked at the possibility of using the canal spillways and hydropower to generate electricity and felt it was something that could be pursued. CDM will contact Mr. Meehan as to the cost of doing a study.
The Engineering Report was accepted as presented with no questions.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Chairman Buscavage stated that Bradley Campbell, Special Projects Attorney has submitted a billing the amount of $7,265.78. Chairman would like an itemized listing of what the $7, 265.78 entails and to have the final report to the Authority by the September Board meeting. Mr. Meehan was instructed to send Mr. Campbell an email requesting those figures.
In a poll of the Board, unless there is a matter that requires Board attention, due to a lack of quorum, the regular monthly meeting of the Lambertville Sewerage Authority will be cancelled for the months of July and August.
Eric Richard entered the meeting. Time 5:20.
On May 19, 2008, a TV unit from Texas was demonstrated to LSA personnel. The unit was described as very thorough and would be looked at when the time came for LSA to purchase that type of unit. During the demonstration, a discovery was made that there is a problem in the Highland and Studdiford Street area which will be addressed in the future and looked at and addressed.
Chairman Buscavage questioned the status of the sump pump/roof gutter drain letter that was sent by Attorney Watts to Mayor DelVecchio and Council. To date, there has been no correspondence regarding the matter.
The following resolution was adopted in a motion made by Member Venettone and seconded by Vice Chairman MacGregor followed by a unanimous roll call vote by the Board.
RESOLUTION
#2008-0001
WHEREAS, the Lambertville Sewerage Authority ("Authority") has received a request from the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders ("County") to indicate by resolution whether or not the Authority will support an action by the County to make the Hunterdon County Planning Board ("Planning Board") the County Wastewater Management Planning Agency (CWMPA"); and
WHEREAS, the County has a $100,000.00 grant opportunity to assist it in completing the County Wastewater Management Plan should the County accept the responsibility for the same through the creation of a CWMPA; and
WHEREAS, if a CWMPA is created for Hunterdon County, each municipality would remain responsible for preparing its own wastewater management plan which individual plans would become a portion of the County Wastewater Management plan; and
WHEREAS, the Authority has determined that it is in the best interests of the Authority and its users if the County creates a WMPA for Hunterdon County and that the Authority will support such an action on certain terms and conditions as set forth in this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Lambertville Sewerage Authority that it hereby supports the County of Hunterdon in establishing a County Wastewater Management Planning Agency on the following terms and conditions:
1. The Authority recognizes its continuing obligations to prepare a Wastewater Management Plan for its Wastewater Management Planning area of responsibility (the Authority has already prepared its Wastewater Management Plan and has submitted the same for approval to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection).
2. The Authority will not assume any technical or financial responsibility for the preparation, submission or approval of any other local wastewater management plans located in Hunterdon County.
3. The Authority will not assume any financial responsibility for the
operation
of the County Wastewater Management Planning Agency.
4. The Authority will remain responsible for the six (6) year interval required updating of its Wastewater Management Plan.
Motion by: Member Mary Venettone
Seconded by: Secretary Frank Kramer
ATTEST: Recorded Vote:
__________________________ ____________________
Barbara Parsons Rick Buscavage
____________________
Irving Gerb
____________________
Robert Hayes
____________________
Frank Kramer
____________________
Janine MacGregor
____________________
Eric Richard
____________________
Mary Louise Venettone
Date Adopted:
Mr. Meehan told the Board via an email dated May 20, 2008 that the drive for #5 RBC has failed and needs to be replaced ASAP (25 years old). The cost for this unit is less then $3,500.00 and will be 2 weeks delivery time. LSA employees will install the unit. All Board members authorized the purchase. To memorialize the purchase, a motion was made by Secretary Kramer and seconded by Vice Chairman MacGregor with a unanimous vote by the Board. (Note that in the past the LSA has paid well above $6,000 for this replacement but we are now using an alternative drive which has been in use on #3 RBC for over a year now. I will order a second unit as a spare on July 1, 2008.
The shaft on RBC #1 failed. At this time estimates are being solicited. The estimated cost should be approximately $15-20,000. It will be replaced on an emergency basis with one of the units recently purchased.
Mr. Meehan brought to the attention of the Board that LSA will be required to maintain a vehicle wash-down area. This will be mandated by the State effective February 2009. An area will be created to facilitate this requirement. Note that we will use re-cycled effluent for wash down water; a green idea that will be used in the Environmental Stewardship Program.
In a motion made by Chairman Buscavage and seconded by Vice Chairman MacGregor with a unanimous roll call vote, the Board moved into a Public Hearing for the purpose of possible adoption of the Budget and changes to the User Charge Fees and Hook Up Permit fees.
Steve Ryan of Bowman and Company, Special Projects Auditor for the LSA gave a dissertation of the rates to be charged as discussed by the Board members. In a motion made by Vice Chairman MacGregor and seconded by Member Venettone with a unanimous roll call by the Board, the Budget was adopted and will be now sent to the State of New Jersey.
In a motion made by Member Venettone and seconded by Secretary Kramer with a unanimous roll call vote, the user charges for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 will be charged at an increase of 11.6%.
In a motion made by Vice Chairman MacGregor and seconded by Secretary Kramer with a unanimous roll call vote, the connection fee to be established for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 will be $4124.00.
Member Venettone stated “I am reluctant to vote to raise the user fees and was reluctant to vote for the increase but as the world goes, it has to be done, but it was not a “happy vote”.
Chairman Buscavage stated that this is the first time since the inception of the “Senior Citizen Rate” that the rate has been increased (1994), but it too had to be raised.
Chief Financial Officer’s Report: In a motion made by Vice Chairman MacGregor and seconded by Member Venettone with a unanimous roll call vote the bills will be paid.
Following is a total as submitted:
LIST OF EXPENDITURES FROM AUTHORITY FUNDS FOR APPROVAL
VIA RESOLUTION BY BOARD MEMBERS
DATE: June 3, 2008
- REQUEST: Bill list from Operation Account
Wages and Payroll taxes from Payroll Account
for the month of May.
PURPOSE: Monthly bills $ 55,105.22
Wages 48,018.92
$103,124.14
SOURCE OF MONEY: REVENUE FUND
- REQUEST: Bill list from Improvement Fund
PURPOSE: Capital Projects Bills $ 16,926.44
SOURCE OF MONEY: IMPROVEMENT FUND
Attorney Watts reported to the Board that the search is not yet completed with regards to the Black River & Western property. As soon as Mr. Watts received a reply, it will be forwarded to the Board.
In a motion made by Secretary Kramer and seconded by Vice Chairman MacGregor followed by a unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Parsons
Recording Secretary
