Jeff Shaffer, Ben Flower, Jessica Sizemore, Lee Hoffman, and Terry Jerin
Municipal Authority Meeting Minutes will be posted after they are approved at the following meeting.
1. Meeting Called to Order – Ben Flower at 6:30 p.m.
2. Roll Call
a. Authority Board Members present: Ben Flower, Lee Hoffman and Jeff Shaffer.
b. Authority Board Member absent: Ruby Miller.
c. Also present: Municipal Authority Manager, Jessica Sizemore; Solicitor, Bill Barbin; Director of Finance, Brett Peters; and Consulting Engineers, Jake Bolby and Tom Reilly.
d. Public Attendance:
Alec Bittner.
3. Approval of Agenda
A. Approval of Agenda – Review and approval of the Agenda for August 25th, 2025
Meeting.
a. Motion to approve agenda as presented.
Mr. Shaffer moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
B. Executive Session: None
4. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)
A. Approval of Meeting Minutes – Meeting Minutes from the July 7th, 2025 Joint Meeting
and Meeting Minutes from July 28th, 2025.
a. Motion to approve the Meeting Minutes from July 7th, 2025 and July 28th, 2025 Meetings.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
5. Opening of Bids
A. None
6. General Public Comments
A. None
7. Payment of Bills/Requisitions
A. None
8. Policy Agenda
A.Old Business
a. Fluoride in the Water System
i. Motion to maintain current permit and continue with the fluoridation to the water system. As part of the due diligence and responsibility to both public health and fiscal stewardship, a comprehensive review took place to review the current
fluoridation.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Shaffer seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
B. New Business
a. Contract 2025-W-01 Pay Application No. 1
i.Acknowledgement of Pay Application No. 1, Contract 2025-W-01 in the amount of $46,350 to Laurel Highlands Excavating.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
b. PENNVEST Payment Request No. 28
i. Acknowledgement of PENNVEST Payment Request No. 28. It is noted that this is for the Water System Improvement Project.
c. Resolution 2025-13
i.Motion to approve Resolution 2025-13 - Updates to the Rules and Regulations for Water, Wastewater and Stormwater.
Mr. Shaffer moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
d. Resolution 2025-14
i. Motion to approve Resolution 2025-14 – Establishing Rates for the customers of the Somerset Borough Sewer System. It is noted that the only change is
reducing the non-compliance sewer lateral monthly fee to $50/month.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
e. Sewer Lateral Testing Extension
i.Motion to allow Management to provide an extension for sewer lateral testing requirements during qualifying events to homeowners that are within a currently funded Phase of the Sewer Project. It is noted that extensions would be
at the discretion of Management along with the expectation that the sewer lateral
testing would be completed by the homeowner after the MABS contractor completes
the work per the contract and timeframe as stipulated by Management as agreed
upon by all parties at the time of agreed extension.
Mr. Hoffman moved, Mr. Shaffer seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
f. Contract 2025-W-02 N. Pleasant Water Line Repair
i. Motion to approve the construction agreement for Contract 2025-W-02.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Shaffer seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
9. Reports
a. Manager’s Report – Update on Operations.
b. Engineer’s Report – Update on the Status of Projects for Water, Sewer and Stormwater.
Mr. Bolby presented the Updates to the Engineer’s Report
WATER:
1) Water System Capital Improvement Projects:
The Water Project is coming to a close. The Laurel Hill Plant was demolished and the site has been restored. The PENNVEST component of the project should be complete
in November.
SEWER:
1) Assessment, Repair, and Abatement Plan (Hydraulic Overload):
The 6-Month Status Report was submitted in mid-July.
Five taps were sold in the first half of 2025 in Somerset Township.
The PENNVEST settlement date for Phase 1Aof the large Sewer Project is on
September 23rd. Afterwards, a “Notice to Proceed” will be issued for the construction contract, then construction will begin. An October start date is expected. Phase 1B is for the Central Business District area. The Funding Application was
submitted on July 30th, and will be considered by PENNVEST on October 15th. Phase 1C will be for East Somerset.The last of the permits will be submitted to DEP within two weeks. The Funding Application will be submitted around February 4, 2026,
then PENNVEST Board will consider the application on April 15th, 2026.
Phase 1D in North Somerset will follow Phase 1C. Phase 2 of the project will be discussed in 2026.
GENERAL:
1) Center Ave. Revitalization Project:
There has been some scaling on the concrete in the Uptown area. Borough Management is working with the contractor to resolve this. Repairs will take place in the spring of 2026.
c. Facility Reports for July 2025 – Provided on the portal for informational purposes.
d. July 2025 Financial Report & Monthly Transactions – Provided on the portal for informational purposes.
10. Adjournment
A. Adjournment
a. Motion to adjourn.
Mr. Shaffer moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Flower.
Motion Unanimously Carried
6: 54 p.m.
B. Next Meeting:
a. September 22nd, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
_________________________________________
Jessica Sizemore, Municipal Authority Manager