VFSA Board Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2024

The Valley Forge Sewer Authority monthly meeting was held on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. In attendance: Board members: Samuel Cupp, David Greer, David Demey, and William LaPorte. Also in attendance were General Manager Leonard Pinchok, Operations and Engineering Manager Matt Jackson, and Laboratory Supervisor Richard Taylor. David Shirk, representing the Authority’s Engineer of Record, Buchart-Horn, Inc., was also in attendance.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Reorganization - 2024

Mr. Greer notified the board that his term expired in December and he will no longer serve as a representative from Charlestown Township. He will continue to serve as VFSA Treasurer until a replacement has been named by the township. The board agreed to postpone the reorganization until all board members are present and able to make changes to the officers and committee members if needed.

Public Comment
There was no public comment. 

Meeting Minutes

Mr. LaPorte made a motion to approve the November 13, 2023, meeting minutes as presented, which was seconded by Mr. Cupp, and the Board unanimously approved the motion.

Operations Report

Mr. Taylor presented the operations report, stating there were no permit limit violations for the month of December and all outstanding lab results from November 2023 were received without violation. There are a few outstanding lab results from December, but do not anticipate any issues. Mr. Taylor reported a sanitary sewer overflow, a non-compliance event, at the Valley Creek Pump Station on December 18, 2024. The overflow was a result of an extreme storm event that produced nearly four inches of precipitation. The Authority did receive a single odor complaint on December 20, 2023; however, the Operations and Maintenance staff, after a thorough investigation, found no sources of odor around the plant. Mr. LaPorte made a motion to accept the operations report as presented, which was seconded by Mr. Demey, and the board unanimously approved the motion.

Financial Report

Mr. Pinchok presented the combined statement of operations showing the balances of all accounts at the end of December with a balance of $26,192,522. Fund balances were presented for review, followed by the budget to actual, where the revenue fund has a surplus of $476,281 and the treatment plant fund has a surplus of $867,369. Mr. Pinchok briefly reviewed several line items from each fund, with explanations for budget and actual differences. The total for Imprest fund reconciliation was $2,059.34. Petty cash expenses for the month were $118.99. Total credit card purchases for the month were $5,961.97. Accounts payable invoices totaled $276,188.53. Mr. Cupp made a motion to approve agenda items 2 through 6 as presented, which was seconded by Mr. Demey, and the Board unanimously approved the motion.

The financial report continued with requisitions totaling $67,850.79 from the Treatment Plant Construction Fund. Mr. LaPorte made a motion to approve the requisitions as presented, which was seconded by Mr. Cupp, and the Board unanimously approved the motion.

New Business

Mr. Pinchok presented two resolutions for review and approval. Resolution 1 of 2024 raises the quarterly sewer rent to $85.00 beginning April 1, 2024. The VFSA board approved the increase to the quarterly sewer rental in the December 11, 2023, meeting. Resolution 2 of 2024 approves the Act 537 Special Study as presented to the VFSA Board. Mr. Shirk reported that there have been no comments from the partner municipalities or the public as of today. He indicated the public review period is available until January 12, 2024. The partner municipalities are asked to provide resolutions by January 15, 2024. Mr. LaPorte made a motion to approve the requisitions as presented, which was seconded by Mr. Cupp, and the Board unanimously approved the motion.

Mr. Quigley, Easttown Manager, expressed a concern about the capacity needed at the plant for future flows. He has learned the township does not have the capacity in the Valley Creek Trunk Sewer (VCTS) line to convey future flows to the treatment plant. Mr. Pinchok directed him to review options available within the Treatment Plant Agreement that address his concerns and how to purchase additional capacity within the VCTS.

Old Business

Meadow Lane Sewer Extension

The Meadow Lane Sewer Extension project was approved to receive PA Grant funds totaling $182,200. A meeting should be scheduled between East Pikeland and VFSA staff to discuss steps going forward.

Act 537 Special Study

Mr. Shirk reported that the Act 537 Special Study review period ends in mid-January 2024. Mr. Shirk has not received any comments to date. Resolutions from all partners and VFSA are expected by mid-January 2024 as well. It is anticipated that the Act 537 Special Study Plan will be presented to PADEP by the end of January 2024. Once PADEP approves the Act 537 Special Study, the next step is to review and approve the options to obtain additional capacity.

Other

The Valley Forge Sewer Authority was approved to receive an H2O grant totaling $300,000. These funds will be spent on several projects at the treatment plant, including the scum pit, rehabilitation of the chlorine building, and odor control. Mr. Cupp asked if future government grant programs were available. Mr. Shirk indicated there is infrastructure money expected to be infused into the economy in the near future.

Executive Session 

The board went into executive session at 8:05 p.m. to discuss the sale or lease of authority real estate. The executive session ended at 8:40 p.m.

Adjournment

Mr. LaPorte made a motion to adjourn the meeting that was seconded by Mr. Greer, and the Board unanimously approved the motion. The meeting adjourned at about 8:41 p.m.