EAST
BRANDYWINE
TOWNSHIP
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
Tuesday,
June 8, 2004
7:30 AM
Those
in Attendance:
Michael Corbin
, Chairman
Gerald
Kirkpatrick, Vice-Chairman
Joseph Anthony
, Secretary
Sandra Moser
, Member
David A. Kirkner
, Chairman of the
Board of Supervisors
Jay
G. Fischer, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
Joseph
Boldaz, Municipal Authority Engineer
Scott T. Piersol
, Township Manager
Mary
Beth Smedley, Secretary/Treasurer
Absent:
David
Summers, Treasurer
Thomas Brown
, Municipal Authority
Engineer
The Municipal Authority met on
Tuesday, June 8, 2004
. Also in
attendance were
David A. Kirkner
, Chairman of the Board
of Supervisors; Jay G. Fischer, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Supervisors,
Scott T. Piersol
, Township Manager;
Joseph Boldaz, Municipal Authority Engineer; and Mary Beth Smedley,
Secretary/Treasurer
Mr.
Corbin called the meeting to order at
7:30 A.M.
Minutes:
April
13, 2004
Mr.
Corbin asked if there were any additions or corrections to the above minutes.
There were none. Mr.
Kirkpatrick then made a motion to approve the minutes as presented.
Mrs. Moser seconded the motion, with all voting Aye.
Minutes:
April
13, 2004
Approval of the
May 11, 2004
Municipal Authority Minutes was deferred until the
July 13, 2004
meeting.
Hide-A-Way
Farms
Sewer
Improvement Construction Agreement and Escrow Agreement – Mr. Corbin stated
that the Agreements have been reviewed. He
discussed one small revision with Mr. Rountree yesterday.
Item #11 now reads:
11.
In the event Developer proposes to connect one or more houses in
the Project to the Improvements after the sewage pump station is operational,
but prior to the date the Authority accepts dedication of such Improvements,
Developer shall enter into a lease of the Improvements to the
Authority at an annual rental of one ($1.00) dollar, and the Authority
shall thereafter operate the Improvements and collect all fees and revenues
related thereto and the Developer shall be responsible for any budgetary
shortfalls while said lease is in effect…
Mr.
Corbin state this change protects the Authority from an operation and billing
standpoint since the Authority does not want to enter into a lease agreement
before the pump station is operational.
With
that addition Mr. Anthony made a motion to execute the Sewer Improvement
Construction Agreement. Mrs. Moser
seconded the motion, with all voting Aye.
Disposal
Beds – Mr. Rountree stated that Aqua Pennsylvania is finalizing a draft
operations agreement for the effluent disposal beds.
He was confirming that although the Municipal Authority will own the
disposal beds, Aqua Pennsylvania will operate them. Mrs. Moser asked what the
cost would be for maintaining the disposal beds.
Mr. Corbin stated that would be outlined in the agreement.
The Municipal Authority agreed that it is planned for Aqua Pennsylvania
to operate the disposal beds once an agreement is executed.
Brandywine
Wallace
Elementary School
This
discussion was attended by Chairman Kirkner and Vice-Chairman Fischer of the
Board of Supervisors for informational purposes only.
Mr. Corbin discussed
the school’s interest in public water and sewer.
The Municipal Authority was concerned about allocating sewer capacity for
the
Brandywine
Wallace
Elementary School
. They did not feel there was
sufficient excess capacity to allow this connection.
They were also concerned about recharge on the site.
Mr. Piersol was asked whether the
School District
has done perc tests on the site. He
wasn’t sure if that had been done. The
Municipal Authority stated that perc tests should be done on the site and that
offering sewage capacity for the school should be the option of last resort.
The Municipal Authority would like the
School District
to investigate other onsite options before they decide whether to allocate any
sewer capacity to them.
The Municipal
Authority is also concerned about public water for the site.
There are two issues regarding public water they would like to consider
before a final decision is made. The
first is regarding the existing well on the site.
The Municipal Authority would like to make sure that if the school
complex connects to public water, the well will be plugged and abandoned.
The Municipal Authority supports the idea of providing public water to
the school since it would be very complicated for the school to provide it
themselves as long as the well is abandoned and closed.
The other issue is
about providing water service to neighbors in the vicinity of the school.
The Municipal Authority has asked Mr. Boldaz to provide an informal
accounting of planned developments that will use public water vs. what water is
still available. There has been
interest from residents in connection to public water and, in fact, several
homes on
Keller Way
and
School Lane
have complained about inadequate water pressure and quantity.
The Municipal Authority is hesitant to support public water connections
for
Keller Way
,
School Lane
, and
Dilworth Road
until we can determine exactly what amount of the public water from the Aqua
America/Downingtown allocation is still available in
East
Brandywine
Township
. They would also like to know who
will be paying for the infrastructure if these homes are allowed to connect.
Mr. Corbin would also like to determine how much of the allocation is
still available after deducting commitments for developments currently in review
and a reserve for future developments within the growth boundary.
The Municipal Authority asked Mr. Piersol to postpone further discussions
with Aqua Pennsylvania until Mr. Boldaz provides them with the requested
analysis.
Mr. Boldaz provided
a draft preliminary assessment in order for the Municipal Authority to determine
the anticipated water demand of the known proposed developments in
East
Brandywine
Township
. By his preliminary calculations
the current total anticipated water demand is approximately 250,000 gpd.
He calculated this number using 2.9 people per household, each person
using 98 gpd. He also stated that
based on information in the pump station application, approximately 80,000 gpd
has been allocated to East Brandywine Township through Aqua Pennsylvania’s
agreement with Downingtown Municipal Water Authority (DMWA).
The rest of the 500,000 gpd has been allocated to
West
Brandywine
Township
and
Caln
Township
. Mr. Boldaz will continue to refine
these preliminary figures and provide a revised draft at the next meeting.
The Municipal Authority is concerned that the 500,000 gpd per day from
DMWA will quickly be used, opening the door for future expansion.
Vice-Chairman Fischer stated that the pump station was designed for a
million gpd, and there might be an option for Aqua Pennsylvania to purchase
additional water from DMWA. The Municipal Authority does not want to see the Kay
Wells used to supply additional water to the area.
Vice-Chairman
Fischer stated that there have been reported problems with wells from some of
the residents in the vicinity of the school, particularly
Keller Way
. Some of the residents reportedly
have spent considerable money to solve their water problems with little success.
The Municipal Authority is concerned that we may be setting a precedent
if the Township supports public water in the area, which is outside the growth
boundary. The concern about
increasing density in the area is not applicable to this situation since the
affected areas are already completely built-out.
Vice-Chairman Fischer stated he approached Mr. Piersol about providing
water for residents with well problems in the vicinity of the school, seeing
this as an opportunity to help residents with well documented problems, who will
be in close proximity to the water line. The
Municipal Authority is concerned that residents in other areas of the Township
that are experiencing water problems may also petition the Township to support
providing public water to their areas. Vice-Chairman
Fischer stated that he believes the problems experienced by residents near the
school are unique. Mr. Piersol and
Mr. Boldaz will gather additional facts and data on this reported area of well
problems, near the school, so it can be verified.
If the Township were
to consider supporting providing water to this, or any other area in the
Township, the criteria must be well defined and demonstrate hardship.
Mr. Piersol and Mr. Boldaz will provide criteria for the Municipal
Authority to review. Any extension
of public water would be a no cost to the Township and include an agreement that
residents will properly plug and abandon their wells.
From these criteria the Municipal Authority will develop a policy
regarding requests for public water.
At
8:35
the Municipal Authority adjourned to Executive Session to discuss the Little
Washington Wastewater Treatment Plant. The
meeting reconvened at
8:45 A.M.
Overlook Road Farm
Mr.
Corbin asked Mr. Boldaz for an updated on the Overlook Road Project. Mr.
Boldaz stated that several months ago he asked the applicant’s engineer R.F.
Preston, for additional information regarding discharge requirements and
treatment alternatives. To date, he has not received the requested information.
Sewer
Easement and By-Pass Issue – Wright Agency – 1142 Horseshoe Pike
Mr. Piersol reported
that several attempts have been made to have Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCue sign the
document granting an easement to the Wright Agency property with no success.
According to the McCue’s attorney, John Kiefel, the developer had
satisfied all outstanding issues related to the easement.
Mr. Piersol contacted Mr. Mike Honan from Rouse/Chamberlin to have him
investigate and attempt to resolve this matter.
On June 1st, Mr. Honan met with Mr. McCue who stated he was concerned
that he would be responsible for ongoing maintenance of the sewer lines across
his property. Mr. Honan advised him
that this was not correct, the Municipal Authority would be responsible for any
maintenance or repairs, and would restore any earth disturbances to previous or
better conditions. Mr. Honan advised Mr. McCue that he has a crew scheduled to
begin construction of the sewer line from the Fire Company property to the
Township property in 4 to 5 weeks and asked them to sign the document so it can
be recorded prior to construction. Mr.
Wright’s attorney, Joseph Wusinich, contacted Solicitor David Bortner, who
updated him on the above situation. Mr.
Piersol will contact the McCues again to try and resolve this matter.
At
8:55
the Municipal Authority adjourned to Executive Session to discuss the McCue
Easement. The meeting reconvened at
9:00 A.M.
Keats
Glen Sewer Invoices
Mr. Piersol reported
that the pre-dedication invoices were sent out by Southdown Homes last week.
The Township has been receiving a good response from the invoices sent
out for the first quarter of 2004.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mr. Kirkpatrick
moved to adjourn the meeting at
9:05 A.M.
Mrs. Moser seconded the motion, with all voting Aye.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Beth Smedley
Secretary/Treasurer
East
Brandywine
Township