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: David Musselman and Robert Nice. Also present were Manager Mark Fournier, Public Works Director Gary Yoder, Solicitor Jim Jacquette, Engineer Patrick DiGangi and Recording Secretary Megan McShane. Abram Diehl was absent.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the April 18, 2019 Authority meeting were approved unanimously (3-0) by a Musselman/Nice motion.

COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE:

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1.         Well #1 Update

Engineer Patrick DiGangi reported that CKS is still working on the layout and design of the equipment being replaced at Well #1. The design sequence has been reviewed with the staff, and the drawings should be finalized in a few weeks. The bid for this project will be awarded at the July meeting.

2.         Clarifier Update

Manager Mark Fournier reported that the new clarifier has been up and running for a month. We are still waiting for pricing from Evoqua to determine how much it would cost to re-build the former clarifier that broke down and was disassembled. They do believe it can be repaired. Mr. Fournier will present the cost of the re-build vs. the cost of another brand new clarifier to the Board.

REPORTS:

TREASURER’S REPORT: Accepted as presented.

Mr. Fournier reported that we received a check for $50,400 from Hilltown Township Water and Sewer Authority for their purchase of 14 EDUs from the PWTA facility. This is unexpected revenue for TBA in 2019.

Board Member Robert Nice inquired as to why the water/sewer revenue isn’t higher from the quarterly water/sewer bills. Mr. Fournier clarified that this treasurer’s report only shows the revenue for the first quarterly billing of 2019. Megan McShane added that the bills go out in February, May, August and November.

Mr. Nice then inquired about the TMDL legal fees, and noted that they are already over the amount that was budgeted for 2019. Mr. Fournier confirmed that the fees are indeed over what was budgeted for this year, and gave a brief update on the TMDL matter.

Board Member John Harrell arrived at 6:16 pm.

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

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

Mr. Fournier gave an overview of the Telford Square project currently taking place at the property located at 118-129 Station Street (owned by Harry Hassan).

Board Member John Harrell referenced the notation in the Collection Report about the car wash using all-blue soap, which now sends blue water into our WWTF, and asked if the car wash recycles their water. Public Works Director Gary Yoder confirmed that they do not. Mr. Harrell then asked if there was a way to look into the rules and regulations to see if, when a property changes hands, the Borough can implement recycling at that time. A lengthy discussion ensued. At the conclusion of that discussion, Mr. Nice asked if the Board could get a look at TBA’s 10 largest commercial customers/water consumers in our system. Mr. Fournier stated that he will provide this list to the Board.

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

Verizon was in to install Fios, which has greatly improved the quality of internet at the WWTF and helps the staff tremendously in submitting reports electronically to DEP, etc.

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

SOLICITOR’S REPORT: We did not receive a written report for the file.

Solicitor James Jacquette reported that there has been no response from the attorney for Hoff Properties regarding the agreements for 114 West Broad Street.

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

Mr. DiGangi reported that the Lutheran Community at Telford submitted land development plans recently and CKS should have the review letters out shortly.

Mr. DiGangi stated that John Evarts conveyed Mr. Harrell’s request at last month’s meeting to explain to staff what predictive maintenance is. Mr. Harrell clarified his request, further explaining that emphasis should be placed on our WWTF. Mr. DiGangi confirmed Mr. Harrell’s request.

Mr. Nice asked when construction for the Lutheran Home expansion project is scheduled to start, and if TBA will receive the revenue this year from what we budgeted for tapping fees in the budget for 2019. Mr. DiGangi anticipates that construction will start before the end of this year.

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

Mr. Fournier informed the Board that a pre-construction meeting was held for the Powell project. He also gave an overview of several small projects that are starting in TBA’s system.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Mr. Fournier distributed copies of a draft Audit letter from Styer Associates that included the following finding: As a part of our annual audit, we typically confirm that the funds in the Authority’s bank accounts with Univest are either covered by FDIC insurance or properly collaterized as per the requirements of Act 72. In performing our confirmation procedure this year, it appeared as though the Authority’s funds may be being combined with those of Telford Borough for the purposes of Univest’s tracking of its Public Funds collateralization obligations. If this is indeed the case, Univest may be underestimating the level of FDIC insurance applicable to the Borough and Authority’s deposits. We should note that Univest’s responses to our confirmation requests in prior years did tend to indicate that the Authority’s cash accounts were being tracked separately from those of the Borough.

Mr. Fournier informed the Board that Finance Director Craig Davies contacted Univest, and the Univest representative informed Mr. Davies that the Authority and Borough accounts were currently listed under Telford Borough and with the same federal tax identification number, even though TBA obtained its own tax ID number in 2006. Univest verified that all of the Authority accounts are being provided with the proper FDIC coverage and collateralization, but they need to receive verification of the separate tax ID number for the Authority (which Mr. Davies provided to them), and the Authority Board would have to fill out separate signature cards for those Authority accounts.

A Harrell/Musselman motion carried unanimously (4-0) authorizing the Board to sign new signature cards for TBA’s accounts with Univest and to remove Abram Diehl as a signer for these accounts.

Mr. Fournier informed the Board that Mr. Davies informed Styer Associates of the steps that he has taken to rectify this finding. Mr. Davies received an e-mail from Styer late Thursday afternoon stating that the finding will be dropped from the Authority’s audit letter.

Payment of the bills and requisitions for the month of April in the amount of $339,347.72 was approved unanimously (4-0) by a Harrell/Musselman motion.

Mr. Nice inquired about the $12,643.12 invoice for Advanced Rehab Technology. Mr. Yoder explained that it was for manhole rehabilitation. Chairman Timothy Hagey inquired about the $2,950 invoice for J.I. Landis Welding & Mechanical. Mr. Yoder explained that it was for a new basket for the forklift.

Signing of the checks was approved by a Harrell/Musselman motion.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:17 pm by a Harrell/Nice motion.

Respectfully submitted,

John Harrell

Secretary