Reading Area Water Authority Board Meeting Thursday June 30, 2016

Transcription

1 1801 Kutztown Road Reading, Pennsylvania Phone: Fax: TDD: Reading Area Water Authority Board Meeting Thursday June 30, 2016 The Stated Board Meeting of the Reading Area Water Authority was held on Thursday June 30, 2016 at City of Reading City Council Chambers, 815 Washington Street, Reading PA 19601, at 4:30 PM. Present were: Board Members: Chairman Mr. Ralph Johnson, Mr. William Murray, Ms. Maria Rodriguez and Ms. Julissa Espinal; Mr. Michael Setley, Solicitor, Mr. Thomas Weld, Engineer, BCM Engineers, and Mr. Dean Miller, Contracted Executive Director. Excused absence was Vice Chairman Steve Symons. Public Comment: Mr. Nick Bene addressed the Board of Directors concerning his property at 175 W Green Street, Reading PA. Mr. Bene stated that he purchased this property some years ago with the intent to just park his vehicles at the location, and did not wish to have water service. He stated he was asked several times to have the meter installed at the property. He finally did put a meter in the property and now has an enormous bill that is currently in the courts. He stated that he had spoken to both mayoral candidates about the Water Authority and was assured that they would be going back to being A Public Utility. Rev. Evelyn Morrison said she was happy to be at City Council Chambers addressing the RAWA Board. She wanted to address her concerns about the ethical and legal process of creating another authority when she was assured that there would not be one. She stated that the city should not be funding anymore Bonds and that she stated she will gather the 200 signatures required and take them to City Council and request a public meeting. She also stated that she would like an accounting of Miller Environmental and GEORGEADIS SETLEY invoices. Lovinson Washington, 1317 N. 10 th street, said he met with Mr. Murray and Mrs. Ruotolo about his bill and was still not happy with the outcome of the discussion. 1 P a g e

2 Joshua Garcia, Property Manager for 425 Elm Street and 945 Church Street, Reading PA stated that the bills at these properties are extremely high and feels that he is not being billed fairly. The Board let him know they would look into the situation. Ms. Shelia Perez wanted to re-iterate that she does not support another Authority and that she wants to have a Public Utility Commissions type of Water Company. Chairman Johnson asked Mr. Dean Miller to review Mr. Nick Bene and Mr. Joshua Garcia s accounts and report back to the board on the findings. Mayor Wally Scott addressed the Board, explaining the feelings of the people of Reading, and asked that the board eliminate Mr. Setley and Mr. Miller from the Authority. Mayor Scott asked that the Board perform a Forensic Audit at the Authority to show what is and isn t being done. Mayor Scott asked that the Board vote on this and have it done. Mayor Scott stated that as long as things are being done correctly there shouldn t be a need to change from one Authority to another. He feels that once a Forensic Audit is done it will put to rest the innuendos that are being said about the authority and only a Forensic Audit could do that once and for all. He stated that all the city is looking for is to help the people. He stated that the city would help with preparing the RFP if needed. Chairman s Report Chairman Ralph Johnson stated he would like to see committees be reformed and asked Mr. Dean Miller to prepare written charges by the next Workshop Meeting in July. Mr. Johnson also asked Mr. Miller to prepare a written Operations report for each meeting to present as the Executive Directors Report. Mr. Johnson mentioned Attorney Michael Setley s tendering of his resignation and asked for 2 members of the board to work together before the next Workshop meeting to gather information on preparing a RFP for a new Solicitor. Mr. Bill Murray and Ms. Maria Rodriguez will be looking into this process. Board Member Bill Murray made a motion to authorize a Forensic Audit from start to finish and to accept the Mayors help to get RFP s prepared. Ms. Maria Rodriguez seconded the motion. Mr. Murray stated a Forensic Audit should be done and that positive change needs to take place and asked for support. Mr. Murray stated that he had a meeting with Sandie Kieffer, RAWA Accountant, Dean Miller, Executive Director, Suzanne Ruotolo, Customer Account Manager and Kim Talbot, Human Relations Director for the City of Reading to discuss changes to the shut off policies and work on a program to get current shut off properties turned back on. The goal is to create a more charitable process and work with the community. Mr. Murray asked to ad hoc committee to set up bylaws. Mr. Murray and Ms. Julissa Espinal volunteered to put this together. Ms. Maria Rodriguez suggested that more information be brought to the public meetings from the committee meetings that are held so that the whole board is informed of the ongoing projects. 2 P a g e

3 Ms. Julissa Espinal stated that she joined the RAWA Board because she wanted to be more informed and help make good choices for the community. She stated that a lot of good policies and projects have been accomplished since she has joined the Board and good things take time to accomplish. Solicitors Report: Attorney Michael Setley stated that he fully endorses the Forensic Audit, so that it can clear the air and to show that things are clear and transparent within the Authority. General Discussion: Mr. Bill Murray made a motion to grant a 1 month average adjustment plus the 20% collection fee on that amount to the owner of 1317 n 10 th Street totaling $ A public comment was made that the owner was not accepting that amount and Mr. Murray withdrew the motion pending further discussion. Chairman Johnson stated that he would like to do more research on the HomeServe contract that was in process of being worked on. Mr. Miller stated that Mr. Daniel Guest from HomeServe had reached out to him recently and is willing to come to a meeting to again go over the process and agreement currently in place to use the RAWA logo on letter they are sending out. Executive Director: Mr. Dean Miller asked for a motion to approve the General Funds invoices for June 30, 2016, totaling $229, Ms. Julissa Espinal made the motion and Mr. Bill Murray seconded to approve the General Fund Invoice. Ms. Julissa Espial asked that addresses be listed on the spread sheet so that they are aware of the refund address. Mr. Dean Miller asked for a motion to approve the Capital Fund invoices for June 30, 2016, totaling Invoices $ 444, A motion was made by Ms. Julissa Espinal and seconded by Ms. Julissa Espinal to authorize the payment of the Capital Expense invoices as presented. Mr. Miller reported the following for the time period of June 14 through June 30, 2016: Monthly Internal Financial Statement ending 5/31/2016 posted on Board members Dropbox for review on 6/21/2016 External Auditor s Report to the Board of Directors received and posted on Board members Dropbox for review on 6/21/ P a g e

4 2015 Audited Financial Statement provided to City Clerk and City Auditor on 6/15/2016 and posted on Board members Dropbox for review 4 scheduled Review Panel Meetings with customers on 6/20/2016 Attended PADEP meeting on 6/21/2016 at Southcentral Regional Office in Harrisburg to discuss 1 year update to Filter Plant Performance Evaluation (FPPE) Ongoing field testing at River Road pump station in Distribution System for Hydraulic Model calibration Attended review meeting at water treatment plant on Programmable Logic Control (PLC) and Filter Upgrade Project Attended preparation meeting for scheduled Arbitration Hearing for employee with Solicitor Participated in Partnership for Safe Water Distribution Optimization Program monthly team meeting Met with Consulting Engineer to discuss Filter Media Replacement Project scheduled for year 2017 Attended employee meetings for Lake Ontelaunee, Water Treatment Plant, Distribution System, and Administrative Office with Board Member Bill Murray Attended weekly team meetings for the Lead and Copper Site Sampling Plan which is required by PADEP. Sampling needs to be completed at 30 sites within Distribution System by September 30, Researched and obtained River Oak Development Lease. This is the property which the River Road Booster Pumping Station resides on. The Lease is on the Board member Dropbox for review. Met onsite to discuss issues with Ontelaunee Energy connections to Water Authority Distribution System. Financial Services proposals received as a result of Request For Proposal (RFP) issued Engineering Services proposal received by Attorney Steve Price as a result of Request For Proposal (RFP) issued Attended monthly financial review meeting with billing vendor Mr. Johnson mentioned that Mr. Miller would be attending the Board of Health meeting to give an update on the water quality so that something like Flint Michigan does not happen again. He stated that they are looking for assurances that nothing happens in the future to our water sources. Engineers Report: Mr. Tom Weld reported that the reimbursement of costs to PennDOT for the Route 61 project would be due shortly. This was a 50/50 project split between the Reading Area Water Authority and PennDOT. The Northwest Reservoir mixing system and concrete repair project has had the insurances and bonds completed. The preconstruction meeting was held on June 1, 2016 Also mentioned was the potential Birdsboro customer, Birdsboro Power LLC, currently are in stage 3, the environmental stage. 4 P a g e

5 Mayor Wally Scott again addressed the Board asking if they would like to have future Board meeting held in City Council Chambers. Board members were in favor of holding the last Board meeting of the month in Council Chambers, and the Workshop Meeting will continue to be held at the RAWA Administrative Office. Meeting Adjourned at 6:10 pm The next Reading Area Water Authority Work Shop Meeting will be held on Tuesday July 12, 2016 at 4:30PM at RAWA Administrative Office, 1801 Kutztown Road, Reading PA P a g e