The Special Meeting of the Board of Supervisors of East Norriton Township was called to order by the Chairman, Mr. Francis “Bud” Denner, at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27, 2005, at the Township Municipal Building.  Supervisors present were F. “Bud” Denner, Lewis K. McQuirns and Donald J. Gracia. 

            Following roll call, Mr. Denner offered a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance was then recited by all in attendance. 

            The Chairman then reviewed the purpose of the meeting.  Mr. Denner explained that this is an informational meeting to discuss Sanitary Sewer Issues.

            The Chairman called on Mr. Charlie Fagan, Executive Director of the East Norriton Plymouth Whitpain Joint Sewer Authority.  Mr. Fagan reviewed the ENPWJSA Action Plan and the thirteen point eight million dollars of capital improvements.  Mr. Fagan reported that some of the improvements are required under the Corrective Action Plan which was submitted and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  Mr. Fagan believes that the bond payments from the municipalities should not exceed the capitol contributions that are now being made.  Mr. Fagan also advised that the ENPWJSA may ask each municipality to guarantee the Bond Issue and that the inter-municipal agreement must be amended to require one third payment from each municipality toward the bond payments.

            The Chairman called on Mr. Matt Brown of ARRO Consulting.  Mr. Brown reviewed the Corrective Action Plan submitted and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; part of the Corrective Action Plan requires quarterly reports to be submitted.  With the approval of the second quarter report the DEP has given an additional three hundred seventy-five connections with one hundred eighty-nine specifically for East Norriton Township.  The DEP made it very clear that the connections are for development downstream of the Germantown Pumping Station. No connections will be granted for upstream of the Germantown Pumping Station.  The DEP is looking to enter into a consent order and agreement specifically with East Norriton Township’s Infiltration & Inflow program in the western part of the system.

            Mr. Matt Brown reviewed the West End Sewer Issues in the Township.  Subareas #3, #5 and #6 outlined on a map dated October 27, 2004, account for 1.5 million gallons of Infiltration & Inflow, ARRO has eliminated sump pump connections, roof drains and cross connects as significant sources of the I & I.  Only ten percent of the laterals have been televised because of the lack of rain but all have shown leaks.  Mr. Brown reported it is likely that the DEP will require a consent order and agreement with the Township for connections in the West End of the Township.  The DEP has made it very clear that to release connections for the West End they are willing to grant one gallon of connected waste water flow for every ten gallons of I & I which the Township documents has been removed.  Mr. Brown recommends that the Township pursue the replacement of sewer laterals and the Board of Supervisors now must determine how to proceed with the lateral replacements and who will fund the replacement.  Mr. Brown also advised that the Township must now address the I & I problem or the DEP will fine the Township for overflow violations. 

            Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald reviewed Mr. Brown’s memo dated September 22, 2005 about the recommended lateral replacements which would also essentially mitigate the sewer holding tank option.  The Township staff is proposing to  use the sanitary sewer outfall reserve money intended for the holding tank to fund the Township’s portion of the  Joint Sewer Authority’s Bond Issue for the next several years.

            Mr. Steven Hann, Special Legal Counsel for the Joint Sewer Authority, advised that he has requested a draft copy of a consent order agreement from the DEP for the Joint Sewer Authority.  Mr. Hann reported that the Township will also have to execute a consent order agreement with the DEP which will outline the obligations and deadlines which have to be met by the Township otherwise the DEP will enforce penalties.  Mr. Hann reviewed Ordinance #456 which states that the homeowner is responsible for repair/replacement of the sewer lateral from the house to the curb.  If the homeowner fails to timely repair any defect or cease any unlawful discharge, the property owner is subject to a surcharge based on a ratio of wet weather flow versus dry weather flow.  If a property owner denies access to the property for inspection purposes then the property owner is also subject to a surcharge.

            Mr. Paul Tornetta who was in attendance at the meeting asked how much Inflow and Infiltration comes from a lateral?   Mr. Matt Brown replied that is hard to estimate but that there is about one point five million gallons of I & I generated from the three subareas which appears to be the result of lateral leaks.

            Mr. Matt Brown reviewed his memo dated September 22, 2005 which provided general milestones for the Township’s proposed Capital Action Plan for Germantown Pike pump station area. 

Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald reported that the Action Plan must be submitted to the DEP by the end of 2005. 

Mr. McQuirns made a motion to authorize Steven Hann of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell and Lupin and Matt Brown of ARRO Consulting, Inc. to develop a draft Capital Action Plan by the October 25, 2005 regular meeting for the Board of Supervisors to review.  After requesting any comments and there being none, the motion was seconded by Mr. Gracia and approved unanimously.

Mr. McQuirns made a motion to authorize Steven Hann to request a draft consent order agreement for the Township from DEP.  After requesting any comments and there being none, the motion was seconded by Mr. Gracia and approved unanimously.

Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald wanted to alert the residents of East Norriton Township that private water wells and septic tanks still exist in the Township.  Mr. Baerwald reported that the Township currently has approximately three hundred ninety-two residential properties without public water and approximately two hundred residential properties on septic systems.   The Township is looking to extend public water and sewer into areas of the Township that do not exist when opportunities arise.

The Chairman announced the next Sanitary Sewer Issues special public meeting will be held Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 1:30 p.m.

Township Manger, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald reported that the Joint Sewer Authority’s  Act 537 Plan needs an insert from East Norriton Township. Apparently, EDM Consultants has not continued working on this so the Township may need ARRO Consulting, Inc. to complete for the Township.              

Mr. Gracia made a motion to authorize ARRO Consulting, Inc. to complete the East Norriton Township part of the Act 537 Plan if EDM Consultants cannot complete the plan.  After requesting any comments and there being none, the motion was seconded by Mr. McQuirns and approved unanimously.

Township Manager, Mr. Helmuth Baerwald reported that the Township staff met with West Norriton Township Manger, Mr. Joseph Hein to discuss the possibility of diverting some sewer flows from the Burnside Pump Station to the West Norriton Township system.  West Norriton Township Manager, Mr. Joseph Hein will look into our request and respond back to East Norriton Township.

There being no other comments or questions to come before the Board, Mr. Gracia made a motion to adjourn.  Mr. McQuirns seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Helmuth J. H. Baerwald
Township Secretary