City Council

MABE Meeting Minutes March 25, 2014 In Attendance: Absent: Others In Attendance: Rick Shaw Dave Friedman, Operator EEMA Darrell Gibble Jack Stewart Floyd Jennelle Milissa Hirst, Engineer Hydraterra Doug Mountz Bob French Mike Popow Jared Grant, Selective insurance Charlotte Gehman Bob Longley, Longley Insurance Joe Boldaz Stephen Kalis Meeting called to order at 7:01p. Meeting Minutes Motion by Darrell to approve Pay Application 2 per Engineers recommendation, which was omitted from the February minutes. Second by Floyd. Motion Approved. Motion by Mike with second by Darrell to approve the revised February meeting minutes. Motion approved. Public Comment None Correspondence Request for contribution from Elverson EMS. PMAA Workshops and Spring Dinner Treasurer’s Report Motion by Mike to approve Treasurer’s report. Second by Floyd. Motion Approved. Asset Review – Rick will review with Charlotte Operator’s Report Challenges in compliance in February due to the EQ tank being removed from service as a result of the emergency. Controlex added an alarm for interim pump station at the screening vault and repaired outlets. Dave suggested adding polymer to the clarifier to help the sludge settle while EQ tank is being repaired. Cost would be about $7.00 a day. He also suggested seeding the plant to aid the nitrification process. Would require bringing in a half to a full truckload. Only cost is to transfer. This would be handled by Main Pool and chemical. Motion by Doug to approve the purchase and use of polymer. Second by Floyd. Motion approved. Worked with Joe on draw down tests at Corbit Engineer’s Report Joe introduced Milissa Hirst, P.E. She is an engineer for Hydraterra, who is working on the Disinfection Upgrade. Equalization Tank Failure – Joe has been able to inspect the tank and feels it is structurally sound. Contractor has re-welded several areas where the welds appeared to be compromised. The tank will be checked for leaks when it is reinstalled. Paint that is exposed is corroded and Joe presented a proposal for repainting the tank. Joe met with the contractor on site and identified pinhole rust, spider web cracks and more substantial corroded areas. Joe feels the entire inside of the tank should be recoated. See attached. Joe suggests Option 1 to get the warranty. This is typical of tanks after a few years. Tnemec 69 is the original coating. Using a similar coating will allow the new coating to bond with the existing without taking it to bare metal, Page 1 of 3 MABE Meeting Minutes March 25, 2014 should Option 2 be selected. Tenting Option #3 if weather is not cooperating. Motion by Darrell to approve Option 1 and 3 if necessary, subject to any special terms and conditions. Second by Doug. Motion approved. Joe anticipates the tank will be reinstalled within the next few weeks. Tank anchor diameter is being increased. No defects found in the slab. Stephen indicated that his firm should review the conditions of the proposal prior to award. Disinfection Upgrade – Project scope reduction to change the split face block to a standard CMU is being considered. Also, suggests removing glass block, high level alarm, controllers, influent flow meter and fiber optic cable. Joe anticipates presenting a change orders at the April meeting. Shop drawings are coming in and construction should be coming soon. 83 S. Brick Lane – At the request of Esther Prosser, existing sewers were reviewed and a field visit was conducted to observe condition. Sewer line is shown on SSM drawing and one section was installed, installation date unknown. Recommends televising the line prior to connection, pressure testing and seal the existing manhole at Stable drive. Joe has responded to Esther with his findings and feels she is in a good position to make a connection. Homes at 33 and 35 S. Brick Lane appear to be connected, Charlotte will verify. Granahan/Schempp Townhouse Community – appears a gravity connection is possible, but based on the number of boulders, it could be cost prohibitive. Joe has corresponded with Mr. Schempp about his findings. Draw down test was completed. Pump was replaced and Mr. Schempp does understand the situation and will need to provide additional escrow monies to move forward. Mr. Schempp has been asked to provide an additional $5,000 escrow. Annual Waste Load Management Report (Chapter 94) – Rick has reviewed the report and signed so Joe can submit to DEP. Annual report is due to PADEP on March 31 of each year. 2014 CRP Grant – Prior to this MABE meeting, Joe presented the plan at public meeting. Cost opinion has been reduced. Adding a sanitary sewer line that conveys flow from Springfield village to the screening facility at the treatment plant. Matching funds would be 185,000.00. MABE has spent about 65,000 of that money already. Discussion of grant request amount. Borough Council approved the grant application and resolution at the public meeting held prior to this MABE meeting. Motion by Floyd to support submission to the CRP grant application to the county by Borough Council and to take further steps as required, by Floyd. Second by Rick. Motion Approved. USDA Rural grant/loan – due to the median household income in the Borough, we do not qualify for a grant, but would probably qualify for a low interest loan. Solicitors Report Continuing to review the file as it relates to the EQ tank claim. Hope is that Stephen will present options and cost benefit analysis regarding the claim at the April meeting. Stephen recommends that MABE and Borough council consider shopping the policy. Presentation Bob Longley, Broker and Jared Grant, Claims representative from Selective – Jared indicates that there is nothing new to add to the claim that was not already covered in prior correspondence. Bob explained that he is an institutional agent, writing policy for municipal authorities, libraries, etc. Bob reviewed the increase in coverage that occurred in 2012. Rick asked for explanation of coverage. We have a special form policy which is the broadest policy. Covers everything except those things that are specifically excluded. The claim was denied based on the earth movement exclusion. Bob provided copies and an article about expanse of soils and frost heave. According to Bob, this is an uninsurable exposure. Stephen asks what the engineers experience is in EQ tank design and operation. Jared will ask. Jared indicated that Stephen can present additional findings, but confirmed that Jared is the one making the final decision. He makes the decision with Page 2 of 3 MABE Meeting Minutes March 25, 2014 input from other adjustors and his supervisor. Rick asked for an explanation of what is covered. The package is written for businesses. The Political Torte Subdivision Act is used, but the law drives everything and laws are narrowly construed. Stephen confirms that there is no situation that Bob knows of that would cover frost heave. Adjourned the regular meeting to executive session at 8:45p Adjourn the executive session at 9:15p Old Business None New Business Motion to adjourn at 9:15 p Respectfully Submitted by Charlotte Gehman Page 3 of 3