VFSA Board Meeting Minutes
June 10, 2024
The Valley Forge Sewer Authority monthly meeting was held on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. In attendance: Board members: Norman Vutz, Terri Woodman, Samuel Cupp, Richard Stipa, William LaPorte, and David Demey. 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.
Public Comment
Mr. Tom Toole and Mr. David McNitt were in attendance. There was no public comment.
Meeting Minutes
Ms. Woodman made a motion to approve the May 13, 2024, meeting minutes, which was seconded by Mr. LaPorte, and the Board unanimously approved the motion.
Joint Board:
Mr. Pinchok presented the agenda items from the May 30, 2024, Joint Board Meeting. He reviewed each agenda item in detail with the VFSA board members. Mr. Pinchok noted that an agenda item in that meeting, the 2023 Treatment Plant Operating Audit Report, was approved by the joint board members. Mr. Shirk reported that all resolutions approving the Act 537 Special Study Plan were received by the partners. The Act 537 Special Study Plan was submitted to PADEP for comment and approval.
Operations Report
Mr. Taylor presented the operations report, stating there were two permit limit fecal coliform violations for the month of May. Mr. Taylor reminded the board members that during the summer months, the permit requirements for fecal coliform are more stringent. If these two events were tested during the non-summer months, the results would not have been a violation. Historically, the authority has not been charged any fines for permit violations. Any outstanding lab results from April 2024 were received without violation. Mr. Jackson reported that additional operational monitoring equipment will be installed in the Ultra-Violet Disinfection System next month, which may help minimize the risk of violations. The staff will contact PADEP to inquire if additional data is available from other wastewater treatment plants.
There were no odor complaints recorded during the month. Mr. LaPorte made a motion to accept the operations report as presented, which was seconded by Mr. Cupp, and the board unanimously approved the motion.
Financial Report
Mr. Pinchok presented the combined statement of operations for all accounts at the end of April with a balance of $26,421,177. Fund balances were presented for review, followed by the budget to actual summary, where the revenue fund actual for the month has a surplus of $372,122 and the treatment plant fund actual for the month has a surplus of $632,112. Mr. Pinchok briefly reviewed several line items from each fund, with explanations for budget and actual differences. Impress fund reconciliation was $544.94. There were no petty cash expenses for the month. Credit card purchases for the month were $1,096.78. Accounts payable invoices totaled $1,059,208.70. Ms. Woodman 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 $18,914.50 from the Treatment Plant Construction Fund and requisitions totaling $64,040.22 from the Capital Improvement 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
Other
Mr. Pinchok presented information for the PMAA Conference being held in Hershey, PA. Board members should contact Mr. Pinchok if they are interested in attending.
Old Business
2023 Audit Reports
Mr. Pinchok presented the 2023 audit reports for review and approval. He noted that the Joint Board approved the 2023 audit reports as presented at the last meeting, and the administration and finance committee recommended approval as well. Mr. Stipa made a motion to approve the requisitions as presented, which was seconded by Ms. Woodman, and the Board unanimously approved the motion.
Meadow Lane Sewer Extension
The East Pikeland Township Manager and VFSA staff held a meeting on May 29, 2024, with the residents of Meadow Lane to discuss a sewer main extension. After a presentation by Mr. Stoltz of VFSA, several questions were addressed. The average authority cost to residents is estimated to be around $10,000. The residents will be offered several payment options, including PENNVEST, a payment plan through the Authority, or personal financing on their own. The estimated start date of the project will be late fall, with a completion date by year-end. East Pikeland Township has an ordinance requiring all homeowners to connect if a public sanitary sewer is available.
Act 537 Special Study
Mr. Shirk reported that the Act 537 Special Study Plan has been submitted to PADEP for review and approval. PADEP has sixty to one hundred twenty days to respond and/or approve. A meeting with Mr. Patel of PADEP has been requested to begin an evaluation of the rerate project. In addition, the engineer of record and authority staff is evaluating the collection system and its ability to convey the additional flows to the plant.
Other
Committee meeting dates will be sent to the board for availability. Mr. Jackson covered several agenda items for the Operations and Construction Committee, including 2025 budget projects, asset management reviews, and engineering specifications for upcoming projects. The Public and Intergovernmental Committee will discuss upgrades and improvements to the website.
Executive Session
The board entered an executive session at 7:45 p.m. to discuss the general manager’s performance review. The executive session ended at 8:25 p.m.
Adjournment
Ms. Woodman made a motion to adjourn the meeting that was seconded by Mr. Cupp, and the board unanimously approved the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m.