WEST MIFFLIN SANITARY SEWER MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY

BOARD OF DIRECTORS' REGULAR MEETING

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1998

MINUTES

 

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

 

Cynthia Sullivan, Roberta Chonko, Michael Price, Donna Diener, Donald Trimbath

(Donald Trimbath was present by Conference Phone at the time of Roll Call)

 

ALSO PRESENT

 

Irene Parkinson, Ronald Hess, Ira Weiss, Esq., David M. Meredith

 

A quorum was established with the majority of the Members of the Board present and the meeting commenced at 7:00 PM.

 

1. On motion (Price-Chonko) moved to approve Resolution 27-98 of The West Mifflin Sanitary Sewer Municipal Authority, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Amending and replacing Resolutions No. 3-96 effective July 6, 1996 and 3-96C, effective February 6, 1998, enacting, establishing, fixing, and imposing sewage rates and charges for the use and services of the various sanitary sewer systems in the service area of the Authority, establishing the basis for such rate or charges, and providing that all users of the various sewage systems in the service area be charged the rates set forth commencing with the date the system is transferred to the Authority from the Borough of West Mifflin for the Balance of the Calendar Year 1998 and for each Calendar Year thereafter, for the maintenance and support of sanitary sewer systems and the sanitary sewer treatment systems for the aforesaid periods.

 

2. On motion (Chonko-Diener) approved the minutes of May 7, 1998 Board of Director's Regular Meeting.

 

3. On motion (Chonko-Price) approved the Treasurer's Report for April 1998.

4. On motion (Chonko-Diener) authorized payment of Requisition #23 for drawdown on the Series 1996 Bond Issue from National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio in the amount of $638,663.54.

5. On motion (Chonko-Price) authorized Chester Engineers to proceed with individual rights-of-ways and descriptions for each property in the Noble Road Sanitary Sewer Project.

6. On motion (Chonko-Diener) authorized Chester Engineers to proceed with individual rights-of-ways and description for each property in the Pittsburgh-McKeesport Sanitary Sewer Project.

 

7. Solicitor Ira Weiss, Esq.

The Solicitor explained that with the new rates that were approved this evening the service charge has been eliminated. In order to afford some relief for Senior payers regarding the receiving of their Social Security, the deadline for payment of each monthly bill would now be the 5th of the following month, for instance, under the present system the payment for the August billing would be due August 31st. Under the new approved payment date, the August billing would be due September 5.

8. Chester Engineers, Engineer David M. Meredith

Report attached to minutes.

Correction to Engineer's Report: Semi-monthly progress meetings instead of bi-weekly progress meetings. The Engineer notes that with regard to United Environmental, Inc. complying with the deadline dates for completion, this was addressed in the Contractor's Meeting. Engineer Meredith will keep the Board apprized of any changes.

9. Operations Manager, Ronald Hess:

(a)     Three employees took Certification Tests and three employees passed this test. They were Larry McGurgan from SC TO SD1, and William F. Welsh from SD1 to SC1. William F. Maha took the test for the first time and obtained an SD1.On motion (Diener-Price) to put a letter of "job well done" in their personnel jackets.

(b)     Dye Testing is almost completed

(c)     Thompson Run and New England Upgrade- Alarm systems worked well with the severe weather conditions that we had the evening of the tornadoes.         

(d)     Summer help:

 

On motion (Chonko-Diener) approved the hiring of 3 persons for summer help for 89 days.

Motion approved: 4 Yes, l Abstain.      

 

(e)    Streets Run: We are not able to receive taps for the Street's Run Watershed as the Department of Environmental Protection did not approve new taps for 1998 in this area due to the required work to correct the Streets Run Road Watershed problem that has been on-going since 1954. (WMSSMA participated in the short-term correction of this problem. Meetings have been on-going on this issue. WMSSMA has done everything required up to this point that has been requested)                                         

 

14. New Business:

Madam Chairman Cynthia A. Sullivan read three News Releases attached to these minutes:

(a)    Rate Increase,

(b)   5 Year Contract: WMSSMA and Warehousemen & Employees Union Local 636., and

(c)    $500,000 grant for the Noble Road Project from Allegheny County Community Development by County Commissioners Cranmer, Dunn, and Dawida. Copy of Press Releases attached to these minutes.

 

16. On motion (Chonko-Diener) moved to approve Agreement between the General Warehousemen and Employees

 

Union Local 636 and West Mifflin Sanitary Sewer Municipal Authority for a contract Term of 12:01am, January 1, 1999 to 12 Midnight, December 31, 2003. This is a five-year contract.

Attorney Rushford of Ira Weiss, Esq's office who negotiated the contract along with the Negotiating Committee. In his summary of contract changes, stated that the specific issue of the 5 year contract was changing over from the West Mifflin Borough Contract to the Authority Contract. Also, there were changes for employee education, an average increase of 2.5% for the term of the Contract and changes to the Employees Pension Plan of an early retirement option.

 

17. Old Business:

 

Engineer David M. Meredith, of Chester Engineers, reviewed the suggested changes for the Engineers' report for the 1998 Guaranteed sewer Revenue Bond Issue. There was not enough time in caucus to complete the review and Engineer Meredith will again address this report at the Workshop on June 26, 1998.

18. Mr. Jerome R. Yasher, CPA from Sarp & Company of Toll Gate Hill, Greensburg, Pa. reviewed and presented the 1997 Audit to the Board of Directors. Copies have been sent to the State, Trustee-National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio, and West Mifflin Borough.

 

19. Reception of Visitors:

 

There were no requests to be placed on the agenda for this meeting.

 

20.  On motion(Price-Chonko) adjourned the meeting at 7:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted by,

 Michael Price, Jr., Secretary