DRAFT COPY SUBJECT TO BOARD APPROVAL 

MINUTES OF THE MEETING

OF THE

MAXATAWNY TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011

Members of the Maxatawny Township Municipal Authority met for the regular monthly meeting on Thursday, September 22, 2011, in the Township Building.  Chairwoman Gayle Sanders called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with members Steve Wilson, Michael Berger, Rodney Freed, and newly appointed member Scott Gardner present.  Also in attendance were Engineer Chris Falencki, Solicitor Jill Nagy, Supervisor & Utility Operator Allen Leiby, Authority Manager K. Ray Stauffer, and Township Manager Justin Yaich. 

OATH OF OFFICE

1.             Solicitor Jill Nagy administered the Oath of Office to newly appointed member Scott Gardner. 

ACTION ON MINUTES

1.             Reading of the Minutes of the August 25th Authority Meeting was waived since copies of the Minutes were distributed prior to the meeting.  On motion by Rodney Freed, seconded by Michael Berger, and approved by all members, the Minutes were accepted as presented. 

OLD BUSINESS

1.                   Borough of Kutztown – North Park Project – Represented by Gabriel Kahlife and Chuck Strodoski.  

a.                   Representatives of Kutztown gave a brief overview of the North Park Project “Phase One”.  

b.                   Borough Manager Gabriel Kahlife was present to follow up on a request for the MTMA to waive the tap in fees for the North Park restrooms.

c.                    MTMA had several questions regarding the park.  A lengthy discussion took place with Borough Manager Kahlife responding as follows:

                                                                           i.      Park will be accessible all year round for passive recreation to anyone in the public.

                                                                         ii.      The water WILL NOT be potable, so signs will be displayed to the same.

                                                                       iii.      There may be future build out of the park, in additional phases.

                                                                       iv.      The restrooms are planned to be two units per side.

d.                   Engineer Falencki raised two concerns with the water and sewer:

                                                                           i.      Bathrooms will need an E1 grinder pump. 

                                                                         ii.      A land development plan must be submitted to the Township.

                                                                       iii.      The future SCRA plant is not fully fenced in, only on two sides.  This is something to take into consideration now that a park will be there.

                                                                       iv.      Engineer Falencki recommended no action on the tap in request at this time until he has time to discuss several matters with Project Manager Jim Carr. 

2.                   Cedar Shopping Centers – Bulk Water Agreement

a.                   Authority Manager K. Ray Stauffer informed the Municipal Authority that the bulk water agreement with Cedar had been fully executed and is on file in the Township office. 

3.                   Ground Water Rule

a.                   Authority Manager Stauffer gave an overview of the Ground Water Rule and explained a letter dated 08/30/11 from PADEP stating that they did not receive proof that we completed our ground water testing.

Engineer Chris Falencki informed that MTMA that he has since received a letter stating they received the proof, just haven’t reviewed it. 

NEW BUSINESS

1.                   Authority Manger Stauffer reviewed the billing summary for the month of August.

2.                   Chairwoman Gayle Sanders informed the MTMA that Authority Manager K. Ray Stauffer has indicated his intent to make September’s MTMA meeting his last before fully retiring. 

REPORTS

1.                   Engineer Chris Falencki

Engineer Falencki informed the MTMA that the contractor is ready to begin paving on Pershing and Curtis as is requesting to do a full overlay as done previously.  Engineer Falencki feels the trenches have had adequate time to settle, considering all the weather we have had.

In addition, the contractor has requested consideration to be able to do additional blasting in anticipation of rock.   

* On a motion by Micheal Berger, seconded by Rodney Freed, and approved by all members, the MTMA gave a favorable recommendation to allow blasting, contingent upon Almeida & Hudak negotiating the $50,000 cost incurred to the MTMA with regard to the water line replacement project. 

*  On a motion by Rodney Freed, seconded by Steve Wilson, the request to overlay Curtis and Common Road was approved by all members. 

Engineer Falencki presented a request for payment from Almeida and Hudak in the amount of $178,078.45.                               

*  On a motion by Rodney Freed, seconded by Michael Berger, and approved by

                                    all members, the request was granted.               

                                Engineer Falencki also brought up the issue of a Plant Operator.  The MTMA

                                decided to discuss the matter in executive session at the end of the meeting.               

2.                   Representative Jim Carr – S.S.M. Group

Representative Carr gave a lengthy overview of the project and status of the same.  From his discussion came two major points.

a.       The contractor, due to weather related delays, would like to request the final completion date of 3/31/2012 be changed to “Date of Substantial Completion, making the Final Completion April 30, 2012.

*  On a motion by Michael Berger, seconded by Rodney Freed, and approved by all members, the motion to extend the final completion date, contingent upon all fees associated with contract #4 being waived and Pagoda Electric agreeing to no additional fees for the delay, was approved. 

*  On a motion by Michael Berger, seconded by Rodney Freed, and approved by all members, contract 1, payment number 3 in the amount of $94,499.99, was approved.

3.                   Solicitor Jill Nagy

                                Solicitor Nagy gave an update on the meeting with H2O and DCED.

                                Solicitor Nagy also advised the MTMA to take action on a new manager, since Authority Manager Stauffer has formally retired. 

                                * On a motion by Rodney Freed, seconded by Steve Wilson, and approved by all members, Township Manager Justin Yaich was appointed as the Authority Manager.

4.                   Utility Operator – Allen Leiby

                                Utility Operator Leiby gave the MTMA an update on his report for the month.

                                Leiby also requested permission to purchase three new water meters.   According to K. Ray Stauffer, the meters should not exceed $200 per meter. 

                                * On a motion by Michael Berger, seconded by Scott Gardner, and approved by all members, Leiby was authorized to purchase the meters. 

HEARING OF THE VISITORS AND PUBLIC COMMENT 

1.       Bill Fox - Questioned the location of the new driveway for Anita Burkhart and

Will the driveway be black top.  Engineer Falencki informed everyone a meeting Monday with the County will determine all of the above. 

2.       Jasper Ho – Questioned if Cedar had intended to break ground in January and if Giant had signed the lease to open their shop there.   Chairwoman Sanders informed Mr. Ho the issue was not an issue the MTMA had knowledge of or could comment on. 

FINANCIAL MATTERS 

*  On a motion by Steve Wilson, seconded by Rodney Freed, and approved by all members, the bills were ordered paid. 

Former Authority Manager K. Ray Stauffer gave an overview of the MTMA’s bank accounts.  He also requested the MTMA consider making a $500,000 payment to M&T Bank on the current loan. 

*  On a motion by Michael Berger, seconded by Scott Gardner, and approved by all members, the MTMA authorized Authority Manager Justin Yaich to make a payment in the amount of $500,000 to M&T Bank. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

                        Chairwoman Gayle Sanders informed everyone the MTMA would meet in executive session following the meeting to discuss personnel matters. 

ADJOURNMENT

                        On a motion by Rodney Freed, seconded by Steve Wilson, and approved by all members, the MTMA meeting was adjourned.       

                                                                                                                                                Respectfully Submitted 

                                                                                                                                                Justin Yaich, Manager

.