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.
Borough Borough of Somerset Municipal Authority Meeting
February 2nd, 2026 – 6:30 p.m. (In-Person) Borough Council Room
1. Meeting Called to Order – Ben Flower at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
a. Authority Board Members present: Ben Flower, Lee Hoffman and Todd Thomas.
b. Authority Board Member absent: Jeff Shaffer.
c. Also present: Municipal Authority Manager, Jessica Sizemore; Administrative Assistant, Roger Bailey; Director of Finance, Brett Peters; Assistant Director of
Finance, Matthew Franciscus; Solicitor, Bill Barbin and Consulting Engineers Tom Reilly & Jake Bolby.
d. Public Attendance:
Steve Peck.
3. Approval of Agenda
A. Approval of Agenda – Review and approval of the Agenda for February 2, 2026 Meeting.
a. Motion to approve the agenda as presented.
Mr. Hoffman moved, Mr. Flower seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
B. Executive Session: Litigation, Contract Negotiation.
a. Motion to go into Executive Session.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
7:01 p.m.
Back in Session
7:38 p.m.
*Amendment of Agenda*
a.Motion to add to the Agenda approval of submitting Consent Order and Agreement comments back to DEP
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
b. Motion to approve the submission of the comments to the Consent Order and Agreement to DEP.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
4. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)
A. Approval of Meeting Minutes – Meeting Minutes from the December 15th, 2025
Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset Board Meeting.
a. Motion to approve the Meeting Minutes from December 15th, 2025, Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset Board Meeting.
Mr. Hoffman moved, Mr. Flower seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
5. Opening of Bids
A. Sewer Improvements Project, Phase 1B Bid Opening was held on January 13th at 2:00 p.m.
6. General Public Comments
A. None
7. Payment of Bills/Requisitions
A. None
8. Policy Agenda
A.Old Business
a. None
B. New Business
a. Resolution 2026-01 Authorizing Condemnation of Land for the Sewer and Stormwater Rehabilitation and Improvement Project Phase 1B.
i. Motion to approve the Resolution 2026-01, Authorizing condemnation of Land for the Sewer and Stormwater Rehabilitation and
Improvement Project Phase 1B.
It was noted that the condemnation is for the list of properties that the Authority have not received easements from. This can no longer be delayed in order
to close with PENNVEST.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
b. JTSWA and MABS Recession of Water Service Agreement
i. Motion to approve the Water Service Agreement between Jefferson Township Water and Sewer Authority and the Municipal Authority of
the Borough of Somerset. This agreement will return all customers along MABS mainline located in Jefferson Township to MABS along
with any potential customers.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
c. Sewer Improvements Project Phase 1C
i.Motion to approve the letter of Responsibility for application and submission to PENNVEST for the funding of the Sewer Improvements
Project Phase 1C.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
ii.Motion to approve Management to execute documents for Phase 1C.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Hoffman seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
d. Resolution 2026-02 Resolution to apply for PENNVEST Funding Sewer Improvements Project Phase 1C
i.Motion to approve Resolution 2026-02, Resolution to apply for PENNVEST funding for Sewer Improvements Project Phase 1C
Mr. Hoffman moved, Mr. Flower seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
e. Variance for Slab on Grade construction for Sewer Lateral Testing Requirements.
i.Motion of approval for Variance #1 for slab on grade construction for sewer lateral testing requirement as indicated in the Rules and Regulations.
Mr. Hoffman moved, Mr. Thomas seconded.
Motion Carried
(2 YES – Mr. Hoffman & Mr. Thomas;
1 NO – Mr. Flower)
f. Sewer Improvements Project Phase 1B Central Business District 2025-S-01 Notice to Award
It was noted that the recommendations for this project fits within the construction budget,
and is 100% loan forgiveness.
i.Approval of the Notice to Award to the contractor First Fruits Excavating for Contract 2025-S-01 Sewer System Improvements Project - Phase 1B in the amount of $11,634,414.00.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Thomas seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
ii. Approval of the Agreement between the Owner and Contractor for Construction Contract.
Mr. Flower moved, Mr. Thomas seconded.
Motion Unanimously Carried
g. Acknowledgement 2024-S-01 Pay App 04
i. Acknowledgement of the Payment of Pay App 04 in the amount of $589,618.47 to
Snyder Environmental Services, Inc. for the work completed from 12/01/2025 to
12/31/2025.
h. Acknowledgement of PENNVEST Pay Requests as noted below
i. Waterline Improvements Project – Pay Request No. 31, Loan 82402 in the amount of
$888.98.
ii. Sewer Systems Improvements Project, Phase 1A Construction – Pay Request No. 2,
Loan 71501 in the amount of $742,484.06.
iii. Sewer Systems Improvements Project, Phase 1A Design/Engineering Services – Pay
Request No. 4, Loan 77141 in the amount of $47,598.07.
9. Reports
a. Manager’s Report – Update on Operations
i. Statement of Financial Interests due May 1st.
b. Engineer’s Report – Update on the Status of Projects for Water, Sewer and Stormwater.
Mr. Bolby had nothing further to report.
c. Facility Reports for December 2025 – Provided on the portal for informational purposes.
d. December 2025 Financial Report & Monthly Transactions – Provided on the portal for informational purposes.
10. Adjournment
A. Adjournment
a. Motion to adjourn.
Mr. Hoffman moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Thomas.
Motion Unanimously Carried
7:52 p.m.
B. Next Meeting:
a. February 23rd, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
_________________________________________
Jessica Sizemore, Municipal Authority Manager