VFSA Board Meeting Minutes
February 12, 2024

The Valley Forge Sewer Authority monthly meeting was held on Monday, February 12, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. In attendance: Board members: Norman Vutz, Terri Woodman, 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. Pinchok presented the 2023 annual reorganization to the board for review. Mr. LaPorte made a motion to accept the 2023 annual reorganization for 2024 with no changes. The motion was seconded by Ms. Woodman, and the board unanimously approved the motion.

Public Comment 
There was no public comment. 

Meeting Minutes

Mr. LaPorte made a motion to approve the January 8, 2024, meeting minutes, which was seconded by Ms. Woodman, 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 January and all outstanding lab results from December 2023 were received without violation. There are a few outstanding lab results from January, but do not anticipate any issues. Mr. Taylor reported a complete power outage at the plant on January 9^th, 2024, at approximately 8:00 p.m. caused by a storm event. Mr. Taylor notified PADEP immediately after the outage occurred, as well as the water companies located downstream from the authority. An emergency generator was delivered and set up by Brandon Stanton Inc. to operate the ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system within 4 hours after the outage. Power was restored to one side of the substation at 11:00 a.m. the next morning. The plant continued to operate on feed one of the substation and the temporary generator at the UV building. Electrical power to both sides of the plant substation was completely restored on January 13, 2024. Mr. Jackson mentioned a new electrical substation upgrade and backup generator system are scheduled as capital projects within the next 5 years. Mr. Jackson reported that most of the collection system pump stations were operating on emergency generators during the storm. Ms. Woodman asked if the authority would be fined for the loss of power during the event. Mr. Taylor is unaware of any fines currently. Mr. Pinchok stated that historically, the authority has not been fined after events such as this. Mr. LaPorte made a motion to accept the operations report as presented, which was seconded by Mr. Vutz, and the board unanimously approved the motion.

Financial Report

Mr. Pinchok presented the combined statement of operations for all accounts at the end of December with a balance of $26,349,813. 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 $493,591 and the treatment plant fund actual for the month has a surplus of $775,016. Mr. Pinchok briefly reviewed several line items from each fund, with explanations for budget and actual differences. Impress fund reconciliation was $296.39. Petty cash expenses for the month were $47. Credit card purchases for the month were $2,212.97. Accounts payable invoices totaled $348,410.77. 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.

There were no requisitions presented for January 2024.

New Business

Mr. Pinchok informed the board of the sale of the 1995 International Knuckle Boom Truck listed on Municibid for $26,900. The funds will be applied to the purchase of a new vehicle for the treatment plant.

Old Business

Meadow Lane Sewer Extension

The Meadow Lane Sewer Extension project was approved to receive PA Grant funds totaling $182,200. A meeting is scheduled for March 1, 2024, at the East Pikeland Administration Building to discuss the next steps of the project.

Act 537 Special Study

Mr. Pinchok gave a brief update of the Easttown Township need of additional capacity in both the Valley Creek Trunk Line (VCTL) and the treatment plant. Mr. Pinchok noted that Easttown Township should contact Aqua, owner of the VCTL to negotiate obtaining the additional capacity to convey 163,000 gpd of sewage to the treatment plant. Mr. Shirk and Mr. Pinchok held a zoom meeting with Easttown Township officials earlier in the day to discuss options for the additional capacity needs in the VCTL as well as the treatment plant. Mr. Curley, Easttown Township Manager, indicated the township does not require additional capacity at this time and will withdraw the 163,000 gpd requested in the Act 537 Special Study. Mr. Pinchok believes the additional capacity needs of the Authority can be obtained by re-rating the plant. Mr. Shirk has not received any comments from the public and is still waiting for a few townships to sign and return resolutions. Once all are received, the Act 537 Special Study Plan will be presented to PADEP for review. Once PADEP approves the Act 537 Special Study, the next step is to review and approve the options to obtain additional capacity.

Other

Mr. Pinchok has placed in the board books a progress report for all approved 2024 capital projects for both the revenue and treatment plant funds. This report will be updated monthly.

Mr. Jackson reported that the In-House Loading Tank (IHLT) #1 recoating project is completed. The inspection of the tank is scheduled within the next 2 weeks, and the tank should be in service by the end of February. In mid-January, the staff installed and started the new grinder at the Pickering Pump Station. The French Creek Pump Station has a new backup pump control system in place in case of primary pump failure. In addition, a VFD will need to be replaced at the station as well. 

The staff is working with Josh from Envirep to work through shutting down issues in the septage screening unit. 

The FIXX maintenance software is complete for all plant staff.

Congratulations to Christopher DeLawrence for completing a 3-day instrumentation training program. 

Mr. Pinchok informed the board that all new employee workstations and server software have been installed. 

Adjournment

Ms. Woodman made a motion to adjourn the meeting that was seconded by Mr. LaPorte, and the board unanimously approved the motion. The meeting adjourned at about 7:48 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

David Demey

VFSA Board Secretary