Borough of Somerset Municipal Authority Meeting
December 16th, 2024 Minutes

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December 16th, 2024 – 6:30 p.m. (In-Person) Borough Council Room

1. Meeting Called to Order: – Ben Flower called the meeting to order at 6:30.

2. Roll Call:
    a. Authority Board Members present: Ben Flower, Ruby Miller (via telephone), Lee
        Hoffman, Jeff Shaffer and Terry Jerin.

    b. Also present: Municipal Authority Manager, Jessica Sizemore; Borough Manager,
        Michele Enos; Director of Finance, Brett Peters; Administrative Assistant, Roger Bailey;
    Consulting Engineers, Tom Reilly & Jake Bolby.

    c. Public Attendance:
        None.

3. Approval of Agenda
    A. Approval of Agenda – Review and approval of the Agenda for December 16th, 2024
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 – Review and approval of the Meeting Minutes from the
Joint Meeting held on November 6th, 2024.

a. Motion to approve the Joint Borough Council and Municipal Authority Board
            Minutes from November 6th, 2024:
            Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Shaffer seconded.  

Motion Unanimously Carried
5. Opening of Bids:
A. None

6. General Public Comments:
A. None Registered   

7. Payment of Bills/Requisitions:
A. None

8. Policy Agenda:

A.Old Business:
         a. None

    B. New Business:
         a. Manager’s Report – Update on Operations

Mrs. Sizemore presented the Manager’s Report

             i. LSA Statewide Grant Submission
Submission for the 2025 LSA grant was completed by Aspire for the purchase of a
GapVax.

            ii. STMA Request – MP #3 15-3 Interconnect at Verizon
STMA request discussion.

           iii. Stormwater Program
Update on Stormwater Program and billing setup.

iv. Rules and Regulations
Overview of the proposed Rules and Regulations for Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Systems.  Review of notable changes to existing Rules and Regulations.

v. Wastewater Treatment – DEP Corrective Action Plan
DEP has approved our request for 20 EDU/Sewer Taps for 2025. 

b. Engineer’s Report – Update on Status of Projects for Water, Sewer and Stormwater.

                Mr. Bolby presented the Updates to the Engineer’s Report.

WATER:

        i. Water System Capital Improvement Projects:
The Water Project is nearing completion.  The contractor is to return to complete some generator issues, then there will be close-out of some of the permits which will allow the demolition of the Laurel Hill facility.    

SEWER:

        ii. Assessment, Repair, and Abatement Plan (Hydraulic Overload):

A 6-month Status Report will be submitted by January 15, 2025 in compliance with the Corrective Action Plan. 

The application to PennVest will be submitted in February 2025 for Brierwood and the west sections of town.  There will be approximately 40,000 feet of rehabilitated and replaced sanitary sewer line and stormwater infrastructure. Immediately following Brierwood and west will be the Central Business District.

                      GENERAL:

iii. Center Ave. Sidewalk:
All construction work has been completed and the final close-out of the paperwork is being done.

c. Facility Reports for October & November – Provided on the portal for informational   purposes.

         d. October & November 2024 Financial Report & Monthly Transactions – Provided on the portal for informational purposes.

         e. Rules and Regulations Water, Wastewater & Stormwater – Review and approve the Rules and Regulations as presented, effective January 1, 2025.  

i. Motion to approve the Rules and Regulations, as presented, effective January 1, 2025.
Mr. Jerin moved, Mr. Flower seconded. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

         f. Resolution 2024-06 & Letter of Responsibility – Resolution to submit a financial assistance application to PennVEST & Letter of Responsibility all regarding the Phase 1A of the Sewer Rehabilitation Project.

i. Motion to approve the Resolution 2024-06 to submit a financial assistance application to PennVEST for the Sewer Rehabilitation Project Phase 1A.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Jerin seconded. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

The undersigned, an authorized representative of Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset (Borrower), hereby certifies that at a meeting held on the 16th of December 2024, after due notice, at which a quorum was present, (the “Governing Body”) unanimously adopted the following Resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset (the Governing Body”) shall be, and the same hereby are authorized to submit a Financial Assistance Application to the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), substantially in the form presented at this meeting for the purpose of financing/partially financing the construction, rehabilitation and/or extension of the sewer system. Appropriate officers of the Governing Body are hereby authorized to execute all certifications and documentation required in connection with the application.”

I hereby certify that the above Resolution is in full force and effect as of the 16th day of December 2024.

i. Motion to approve the Letter of Responsibility for the Sewer Rehabilitation Project Phase 1A in the amount of $19,200,000.00.

            Mr. Hoffman moved, Mr. Shaffer seconded. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

         g. Resolution 2024-07 - Establishing Rates for the customers of the Somerset Borough Water System.

i. Motion to approve the Resolution 2024-07 establishing the rates for the customers of the Somerset Borough Water System, effective January 1, 2025.
            Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

A RESOLUTION OF THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF THE BOROUGH OF SOMERSET ESTABLISHING THE RATES TO BE COLLECTED FROM CUSTOMERS OF THE SOMERSET BOROUGH WATER SYSTEM

            BE IT, AND THE SAME IS HEREBY RESOLVED AND ENACTED as follows:

1. From and after the effective date of this Resolution, the rates to be charged to all customers of the Somerset Borough Water System shall be in accordance with the attached Appendix “A” – Rate Schedule.
2. All existing ordinances, resolutions, or parts thereof that are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
3. This Resolution shall take effect January 1, 2025.

ENACTED AND RESOLVED this 16th day of December 2024 by the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset.

Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset

Adopted this 16th day of December 2024   

h. Resolution 2024-08 - Establishing Rates for the customers of the Somerset Borough Wastewater System.

                    i. Motion to approve the Resolution 2024-08 establishing the rates for the customers of the Somerset Borough Wastewater System, effective January 1, 2025.

Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Shaffer seconded. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

A RESOLUTION OF THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF THE BOROUGH OF SOMERSET ESTABLISHING THE RATES TO BE COLLECTED FROM CUSTOMERS OF THE SOMERSET BOROUGH SEWER SYSTEM

            BE IT, AND THE SAME IS HEREBY RESOLVED AND ENACTED as follows:

1. From and after the effective date of this Resolution, the rates to be charged to all customers of the Somerset Borough Sewer System shall be in accordance with the attached Appendix “A” – Rate Schedule.
2. All existing ordinances, resolutions, or parts thereof that are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
3. This Resolution shall take effect January 1, 2025.

ENACTED AND RESOLVED this 16th day of December 2024 by the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset.

Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset

Adopted this 16th day of December 2024   

i. Resolution 2024-09 - Establishing Rates for the customers of the Somerset Borough Stormwater System.    

i. Motion to approve the Resolution 2024-09 establishing the rates for the
                       customers of the Somerset Borough Stormwater System, effective
                       January 1, 2025.
                       Mr. Jerin moved, Mr. Flower seconded. 

Motion Unanimously Carried

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OF THE BOROUGH OF SOMERSET ESTABLISHING THE RATES TO BE COLLECTED FROM CUSTOMERS OF THE SOMERSET BOROUGH STORMWATER SYSTEM

            BE IT, AND THE SAME IS HEREBY RESOLVED AND ENACTED as follows:

1. From and after the effective date of this Resolution, the rates to be charged to all customers of the Somerset Borough Stormwater System shall be in accordance with the attached Appendix “A” – Rate Schedule.  
2. All existing ordinances, resolutions, or parts thereof that are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
3. This Resolution shall take effect January 1, 2025.

         ENACTED AND RESOLVED this 16th day of December 2024 by the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset.

        Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset

         Adopted this 16th day of December 2024   

j. Kukurin Contracting, Inc. Pay Application No. 20 - Acknowledgement of approval of Pay Application No. 20 in the amount of $10,000.  This concludes Contract 1 of the Water Replacement Project.

k. Darr Construction Co. Inc., Pay Application No. 8 – Acknowledgement of approval of Pay Application No. 8 in the amount of $78,346.50. 

l. PENNVEST Pay Request No. 21 - Acknowledgement of approval of PENNVEST Payment Request in the amount of $221,136.78.

9. Adjournment
A. Adjournment             
a. Motion to adjourn.
            Mr. Shaffer moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Hoffman.                

                                                                           Motion Unanimously Carried
6:55 p.m.

B. Next Meeting:
a. January 27th, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.  

_________________________________________
Jessica Sizemore, Municipal Authority Manager