MINUTES
AUGUST 11, 2011
DALLAS AREA MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY
The August meeting of the Dallas Area Municipal Authority was held at 7:30PM on
Thursday, August 11, 2011, at the DAMA Administration Building.
Board Members present: Chuck Steever, Tim Carroll, John Oliver, and Kathy Sebastian.
Other officials present: Attorney Benjamin R. Jones, III, Brent Berger of Quad Three
Group, Attorney Jeff Malak of Jackson Township, Larry Spaciano, and Carol Kieser.
Audience:
Mr. Brian Koscelansky, Bond Counsel, Stevens & Lee, Scranton, PA
Mr. Jeffrey Box, Kingston Township
Vice-Chairman Chuck Steever called the meeting to order and a roll call of attendance was
taken.
Mr. Steever announced the DAMA Board of Director’s held an Executive Session on
Wednesday, August 3, 2011, to discuss the acquisition of real property. No official action
was taken.
No audience comments were received.
A motion was made by Mr. Carroll and seconded by Ms. Sebastian to approve the July 14,
2011 minutes as recorded. Motion withdrawn. The July 14, 2011 motion to purchase four,
31 cubic yard solid waste compactor trucks was discussed. Mr. Carroll made a motion to
approve the minutes and to amend page three, paragraph three, to read “the purchase of
three, 31 cubic yard sold waste compactor trucks and one, 10 cubic yard solid waste
compactor truck”. Motion seconded by Ms. Sebastian and passed with all in favor. (Note:
A motion must be made at the September meeting to rescind the July 14, 2011 motion to
purchase the four, 31 cubic yard solid waste compactor trucks).
Ms. Sebastian presented the wastewater collection, solid waste, and SEO invoices for
payment. A motion was made by Mr. Oliver, seconded by Ms. Sebastian, and passed on a
unanimous roll call vote.
Page Two of Four
August 11, 2011 Minutes
Dallas Area Municipal Authority
Larry Spaciano noted the following reports are submitted to the board for inclusion with
the Treasurer’s Report, as reflected in the new agenda format:
DAMA Bank Account Balances
DAMA Bank Reconciliation
Wastewater Collection July Profit/Loss Statement
Solid Waste Division July Profit/Loss Statement
DAMA Payroll Register
Committee Reports
Larry Spaciano reported the advertisement for an individual to fill the position of Solid
Waste Division Coordinator has been placed in the Times Leader and the Citizens’ Voice
for four consecutive Sunday publication. On suggestion of the board, an additional
advertisement will be placed during the week for those who do not receive the Sunday
edition.
Executive Director’s Report
Larry Spaciano reported on the Solid Waste, Recycling, and Composting Program. The
trucks have been ordered and three financing proposals have been received. The VIN
information from each truck is required to complete landfill permit applications thru DEP.
A primary and alternate site to house the solid waste division is being investigated. Alan
Rosen has been contacted to appraise the property. A committee consisting of Larry
Spaciano, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Oliver, and Mr. Tupper was formed to review Mr. Rosen’s
building appraisal, and investigate an alternate proposal to construct a building on DAMA
property for the solid waste division, before the next board meeting.
The process of completing the DEP permit application to operate DAMA’s composting
program at SCI Dallas has begun. Senator Baker’s office has been contacted for possible
future funding sources for a shuttle truck and compost containers. Grinding of yardwaste
at the municipalities will continue as in the past until a shuttle container system to move
material to and from the municipalities is in place.
Larry Spaciano reported that 1131 ‘second notice” letters have been mailed by the DAMA
office to customers with past due balances as of the 3rd quarter billing period.
An update of the TekCollect secondary phase was given. Carol Kieser reported a letter
was received from Lehman Township Municipal Authority requesting seven delinquent
customers be submitted to TekCollect primary phase. Total of customers submitted to
TekCollect is 540, including Lehman Township accounts. Currently 157, 180 day past due
DAMA customers are in the secondary phase for collection.
Page Three of Four
August 11, 2011 Minutes
Dallas Area Municipal Authority
Larry Spaciano submitted the SCI Lease Agreement for the joint DAMA/SCI Dallas
composing operation to the board for signature. The lease agreement is for five years and
only requires DAMA supply the SCI-Dallas with wood chips for use with their food
composting program. Attorney Malak advised the Board that Jackson Township zoning
and planning approval is required for use of this parcel of land. Mr. Carroll voiced his
reservation in signing the agreement prior to receiving zoning approval. Larry Spaciano
explained that as the project is a cooperative effort between state and local government and
carries the full support of Senator Baker’s office, no major problems with approval to use
the site were anticipated.
Brent Berger reported that he and a representative of Mid-Atlantic Geotech Services
assessed the roadway into the site. The roadway is approximately 5000 feet from Follies
Road to the proposed composting site and it was determined that the base of the road is
adequate for traffic of the heavy equipment that will be used by DAMA to process the
compost. There are a few areas along the SCI access road where potholes will need to be
repaired and some trees may need to be trimmed away from the roadway. The compost
site itself will require very little improvement before operation can begin. Security of the
site will remain with the SCI-Dallas. A USGS map and roadway profile is attached to the
Engineer’s Report.
A motion was made by Ms. Sebastian and seconded by Mr. Oliver to approve and execute
the SCI Lease Agreement between DAMA and SCI Dallas for the operation of DAMA’s
yardwaste composting program on the 15 acre parcel of land at SCI Dallas in Jackson
Township, contingent with Jackson Township planning and zoning approval. Motion
carried on a unanimous roll call vote. Attorney Jones was instructed to write a letter for
inclusion as part of the lease agreement.
Engineer’s Report
Brent Berger reported on the August 11, 2011 meeting he attended with Larry Spaciano
and Ed Hann at DEP to discuss the periodic collection system surcharges. Summarizing,
DEP has placed requirements onto DAMA to reduce I&I, meet with WVSA to discuss the
present service agreement maximum flow threshold, investigate possible flow restrictions
at the WVSA Loveland Avenue pump station in Kingston, and a make commitment to
move forward with an Act 537 Plan to address a long term solution to the problem. A
letter from DEP is forthcoming. The Board discussed the impact that sump pumps and
other municipalities connected to DAMA via a service agreement have on DAMA’s flows,
and the need to address these problems through inspections and in the Act 537 report.
Brent Berger agreed, and suggested a committee be formed to review the 537 Plan Task
Activity Report prior to PADEP submittal.
Page Four of Four
August 11, 2011 Minutes
Dallas Area Municipal Authority
Solicitor’s Report
Attorney Jones reported that he had examined a document from 1987, at which time it was
noted that a property on Woodtip Drive had a sewer main on the property with no
recorded right-of-way. Attorney Jones will advise the current owner to contact the
Abstract Company that performed the title search for the current owner for resolution.
Attorney Jones did a review of the contract with TekCollect and reported that the
secondary phase of collection does not have a time limitation.
New Business
Larry Spaciano presented a Resolution for Reimbursement to allow the Authority to
reimburse to the general fund any costs or expenditures that may incur prior to the loan
closing relating to the implementation of the solid waste, recycling, or composting services.
Mr. Koscelansky explained that this resolution enables the Authority to use its reserve
funds now, and reimburse these reserve funds with loan funds once the project financing is
in place.
Motion to approve the Reimbursement Resolution was made by Mr. Steever, seconded by
Mr. Oliver, and passed on a unanimous roll call vote.
Larry Spaciano reported on three bank proposals to finance the acquisition of real
property and equipment relating to the implementation of a recycling and solid waste
disposal project by DAMA.
Mr. Oliver read a motion, prepared by Attorney Jones, to appoint Mark Van Etten as
DAMA’s budget adviser for the preparation of the 2012 DAMA budget, and that he is
compensated for such services at an hourly rate, not to exceed $50 per hour. Motion was
seconded by Ms. Sebastian and passed a unanimous roll call vote.
Mr. Oliver requested a copy of the final draft of the Jackson Township Collection
Evaluation Report from Brent Berger and stated a meeting should be set up in the near
future to discuss the status of the Memorandum of Understanding.
No further business and meeting was adjourned at 8:50PM.
Respectfully submitted:
Timothy J. Carroll
Secretary
Dallas Area Municipal Authority