At its reorganizational meeting Tuesday, Bradford Sanitary Authority approved the nomination and election of a slate of officers, committees and other appointments for 2024.
Upon recommendation of its nominating committee, Bob Esch and Norm Strotman, the following appointments were made.
Robert Douglas remains authority chairman. Other officer appointments are Esch as vice chairman, Strotman as treasurer, Ernie Clark as secretary, Tim Roff as assistant secretary and Brad Mangel as assistant treasurer.
Additional appointments include attorney Robert L. Saunders as solicitor and Gannett Fleming Inc. as engineer. Clark is pretreatment coordinator; special counsel are Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP, Salzmann Hughes PC and Cozen O’Connor; and forester is Ken Kane of Generations Forestry.
Committees comprise Douglas and Strotman on budget and finance; Esch and Mangel on personnel and safety; Douglas, Esch and Clark on both stormwater management and litigation; and Douglas and Strotman on the Bradford Sanitary Authority/Bradford City Water Authority/City of Bradford Joint Committee.
The authority heard an update on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) limits evaluation during the meeting’s other business.
The 2018 review was delayed due to the plant’s then impending upgrades. At the November meeting, Disney said the Environmental Protection Agency had published a notice indicating it plans to approve the authority’s program.
“After completion of the 30-day comment period, BSA will be notified of EPA’s decision of approval or disapproval of these modifications,” Disney said.
The limits reevaluation will have to be performed again in 2024 based on the new NPDES permit, which had not been issued as of Tuesday’s meeting.
Regarding the proposed cellular communications tower on BSA property, Verizon engineers moved the potential location to the land’s northwest side and continue to evaluate that site.
In training and education, an online overview of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act is scheduled for 1 p.m. Feb. 7. PMAA solicitors Steven Hann and Michael Witherel will provide a comprehensive overview of definitions, amending articles, authority purposes and powers, investment of authority funds, competition in awarding contracts and more.
The Pennsylvania Rural Water Association (PRWA) has scheduled a certified training course to be held at the authority’s wastewater treatment plant Feb. 21. The course topic will be hydraulics, pumps and bearings and the instructor is former BSA employee Brian Little. The course will offer six water/wastewater continuing education credits.
Updating wastewater treatment plant operations, Disney said operators have been prepping tunnels for painting the concrete walls and ceiling. He said the Phase 2 holdback remains with PENNVEST. In the Phase 3 project, Advanced Technology is looking into the uneven surface application on the digester roof. The contractor believes it was a “bad batch of product” and is researching possible solutions.
Delinquency rates increased slightly in December, primarily due to rising residential delinquencies, in particular Jim Andrews’s Moosewatch Development property at 116 Congress St. The City of Bradford Property Maintenance Department ordered the evacuation of the property, which is in violation of city ordinances. Water service will be terminated upon the city condemning the location. The authority also approved special counsel Salzmann Hughes PC to proceed with sheriff sale arrangements for the property.
In field operations, Disney said work is ongoing on the damaged 8-inch sanitary sewer main running beneath Bradford Laundromat. Snyder Environmental removed protruding taps that were preventing access and two large pieces of tile in the stream. The line is now open but Snyder will install cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) solutions to prevent additional collapse and plugging.
The authority’s sewer system assessment’s final 2023 totals were 24,763 lineal feet, including 117 manholes. The overall total completed to date is 86,757 lineal feet, or 37% of the system. Yearly totals for the stormwater system were 44,273 lineal feet, including 491 catch basins and 129 manholes. The overall total to date is 85,092 feet, or 46% of the system.
