CLEARFIELD – Lawrence Township Supervisor Ed Brown suggested at last night’s meeting that the supervisors solicit quotes for repairs to at least four and probably more manhole covers.
He said repairing the leaking manhole covers will help mitigate the stormwater inflow to its sewage collection lines. He said this will help reduce the fines imposed by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for overflow discharge caused by stormwater inflow through Clearfield Municipal Authority’s sanitary sewer system into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
Supervisor Chairman Glenn Johnston explained that the DEP mandating the change for its sewage service improvement project from the township’s engineer firm, Stiffler, McGraw and Associates Inc. to CMA’s engineer firm, Gwin, Dobson & Foreman Inc. has slowed the progress for the project and added costs in imposed DEP fines for time lost and for storm water inflow.
Brown said the township has been negotiating with CMA regarding the fines, and believes they are close to a satisfactory agreement.
Johnston explained that the fines from the DEP are charged to CMA, which in turn charges Lawrence Township. But, he said, the township collection lines are not solely contributing to the stormwater inflow. CMA lines are also being infiltrated by stormwater, he said.
Brown said the township isn’t shirking responsibility for its part of the problem. He said they’ve known there are problems with its sewage collection lines. He reminded township residents that anyone found to be dumping stormwater into sewer lines, via sump pumps or otherwise, will be fined.
Johnston noted that when the township replaces laterals for its sewage collection lines, they replace the residents’ laterals as well, to help alleviate infiltration via laterals, without adding costs to residents for line replacement.
Johnston said the supervisors favored consolidating the sewer system from Lawrence Township and Clearfield Borough under the CMA. But he wouldn’t be in favor if it meant increasing the township residents’ rates to be the same as Clearfield Borough residents. He said the borough’s debt of $28 million for sewage service projects is more than twice the township’s debt of less than $13 million. He said it‘d be unfair to saddle township residents with the borough’s debt.
Brown noted the township has done sewer service repairs in small increments, and much has been funded through block grants. He said the $100,000’s in fines will never amount to the millions of dollars they’ve saved the township from debt.
The supervisors passed an ordinance regarding Highway Occupancy permits. Township Solicitor James Naddeo explained that Pennsylvania Department of Transportation requires municipalities to co-sign any occupancy permits. Per PennDOT requirements, the ordinance requires full indemnity for liability and to save harmless the municipality and PennDOT by those seeking occupancy permits.
Naddeo presented a resolution for supervisors’ approval to ensure compliance for the state Department of Community & Economic Development grant programs. Naddeo explained that DCED requires policies be adopted by municipalities to qualify for funding programs. He said he and township Secretary Barb Shaffner researched the township’s policies and ordinances, and all DCED’s requirements are in effect, but there were some discrepancies on when some were adopted.
To maintain compliance, Naddeo suggested the supervisors pass a resolution ratifying the list of policies to provide a date going forward. The supervisors approved the resolution.
Naddeo advised the supervisors regarding a warranty issue with one of the emergency services vehicles. He said the vehicle was purchased with a chassis manufactured by Spartan Chassis Inc. The vehicle has developed rust damage, which Spartan has determined isn’t covered by warranty. Naddeo explained that the paint is warranted for seven years, and the rust-proofing for 10 years. Spartan claims the rust problem is due to paint failure, which is no longer under warranty. Naddeo said the rust-proofing warranty is still in effect.
Spartan offered to repair the damage at a cost of $14,000. Naddeo suggested the supervisors retrieve the vehicle from Spartan, take it to a local repair service and have the repair service determine if the damage was due to paint or rust-proofing failure. If the determination is that the rust-proofing failed, he said the supervisors should then file a suit against Spartan for not honoring the warranty.
Supervisor William Lawhead said the specs for the new fire truck was adjusted to include a 10-year warranty on both paint and rust-proofing, so bids will need to comply with the specs as they are approved. He said of the five quotes selected from those presented, four include Spartan chassis, and the fifth is a Pierce Arrow chassis.
Supervisors also approved to:
- Accept the CDBG 2013 funding program totaling $108,670.
- Set the township’s Trick or Treat night for Halloween, Oct. 31, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Advertise for bids for auto and liability insurance.
- Order winter road materials as last year, or 1,200 tons of 6-S and 1,800 tons of 1-B stone.
- Pay bills totaling $77,429.42.
- The supervisors adjourned for a brief executive session to discuss personnel issues. They re-adjourned and approved to appoint Shaffner as assistant zoning and permit officer.