The Telford Borough Authority Meeting held this date was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Timothy Hagey, with the following members in attendance: Abram Diehl, John Harrell, David Musselman and Robert Nice. Also present were Manager Mark Fournier, Public Works Director Gary Yoder, Solicitor Mark Weand, Engineer Patrick DiGangi and Recording Secretary Megan McShane.

 

RECOGNITION: Chairman Timothy Hagey presented Solicitor Mark Weand with a cake and congratulated him on his 45 years of service with Telford Borough/Authority, and added that he has been glad to have Solicitor Weand on board for the last 45 years. Solicitor Weand thanked Mr. Hagey and the Authority Board and gave a few remarks.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of January 15, 2015 Authority meeting were approved unanimously (5-0) by a Nice/Harrell motion.

 

COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE: There were no comments from the audience.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

 

1. TMDL Update

 

Manager Mark Fournier reported that TBA is in a holding pattern with the TMDL case. We are waiting for a response to our FOIA Request, and we have not had a response from Lee McDonnell regarding our request for a meeting with DEP. Solicitor Weand added that there has been no court activity.

 

2. Bond Re-Financing

 

Manager Mark Fournier reported that Christopher Gibbons from Concord Public Financial Advisors contacted TBA regarding rate savings that are currently available for a re-financing of the 2010 Authority Bond Series. This could mean a savings of over $100,000 for TBA.

 

Mr. Fournier added that Mr. Hagey was contacted by Jamie Schlesinger of Public Financial Management (PFM), who used to be with Concord. Mr. Schlesinger spoke to Mr. Hagey about rate savings that are currently available for a re-financing of the Authority bonds.

 

Concord and PFM submitted proposals to TBA at the end of January for review and consideration. Mr. Fournier, Mr. Hagey and Solicitor Weand reviewed the proposals when TBA received them, and the proposals were included in the Authority Board packets prior to the meeting.

 

After some discussion, Mr. Fournier recommended that the Authority Board consider re-financing with Concord Public Financial Advisors, since their proposal was less than PFM’s, and since the Authority has a good history with Concord. Solicitor Weand concurred with Mr. Fournier’s recommendation.

 

Mr. Robert Nice asked if TBA has the option of looking at additional funds. Mr. Fournier explained that TBA always has the option of looking at additional funds, but due to bond requirements, we would need to spend the funds within a certain timeframe, and right now, the Authority is on hold with future spending until we know what happens with the TMDL case.

 

Mr. Hagey noted that Mr. Nice’s suggestion was good, and that if a project for potential funding comes up, the Authority Board will discuss it.

 

A Diehl/Musselman motion carried unanimously (5-0) authorizing TBA to move forward with Concord Public Financial Advisors proposal dated January 22, 2015.

 

REPORTS:

 

TREASURER’S REPORT: Accepted as presented.

 

WATER DEPARTMENT REPORT: We received a written report for the file.

 

Public Works Director Gary Yoder reported that the Water Department has been extremely busy this week handling calls from residents with frozen meters.

 

COLLECTION REPORT: We received a written report for the file.

 

Mr. Fournier reported that Bob Kratz gave his letter of resignation to Council, and that his last day will be April 22, 2015.

 

WASTEWATER TREATMENT REPORT: We received a written report for the file.

 

Manager Mark Fournier reported that West Generator Services is finished re-building our emergency generator and we are waiting for results from the various tests that were required per the contract documents.

 

Mr. Fournier stated that the new mag meter has been ordered for the Franconia Township meter connected to the WWTF, and should arrive in the next couple of weeks.

 

Mr. Nice asked Mr. Fournier how the cold temperatures have been affecting the ammonia levels at the WWTF. Mr. Fournier replied that the levels have been doing great; they’re holding very well and have not been plummeting.

 

PTWA REPORT: We received a written report for the file.

 

Mr. Fournier reported that Council was very thankful for the Authority Board’s gesture of asking them for any suggestions to fill the PWTA representative position that recently became vacant when Abram Diehl resigned from the PWTA Board. Council asked Mr. Fournier to let the Board know that they are open to any suggestions that the Authority Board may have to fill this vacant position.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT: We received a written report for the file.

 

Solicitor Mark Weand reported that he has received the information to complete the Agreements for the Enterprise-Rent-a-Car expansion project at 748 Route 113. Mr. Weand will be wrapping the Agreements up in the next couple of days.

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT: We received a written report for the file.

 

Engineer Patrick DiGangi reported that WB homes is now moving through the planning process for Arlington Square. There will be 42 new EDUs in this development.

 

MANAGER’S REPORT: We received a written report for the file.

 

Manager Mark Fournier reported that there have been 19 salting events this winter.

 

Mr. Fournier also informed the Authority Board that he, Mr. DiGangi and Mr. Yoder met with WB Homes and Sellersville Borough to discuss water and sewer service to the Carillon Hill Phase II project.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

 

Payment of the bills and requisitions for the month of January in the amount of $ 301,092.44 were approved unanimously (5-0) by a Harrell/Nice motion.

 

Signing of the checks was approved unanimously (5-0) by a Harrell/Nice motion.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm by a Diehl/Nice motion.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

John Harrell

Secretary