BUCKS COUNTY CONSORTIUM Thursday, March 2, 2006 Meeting Minutes A meeting of the Bucks County Consortium was held at the Doylestown Township on March 2, 2006. The following individuals were present: Janya Awckland, Milford TownshipCharles Barrett, Commerce Bank Alan Bleam, Plumstead Township Eileen Bradley, Wrightstown Township Clinton Cleaver, Department of Environmental Resources David W. Connell, CKS Engineers, Inc. John Cornelius, New Britain Township Jospeh Czajkowski, Upper Makefield Township John Davis, Doylestown Borough Patrick DiGangi, CKS Engineers, Inc. Dave Drye, Chalfont Borough Mark D, Fournier, Telford Borough Katrina Harding, Warwick Township Thomas Harwood, Newtown Township Tom Hauser, Chalfont-New Britain Township Joint Sewage Authority Richard John, Doylestown Township Stephanie Mason, Doylestown Township Linda McNeill, Tinicum Township Ted Middleman, Wrightstown Township Richard O’Brien, Keystone Municipal Services Daniel P. Olpere, Perkasie Borough Bob Pellegrino, Newtown Township Richard Sabol, Upper Southampton Township Tom Scott, Warwick Township Stephen Sechriest, Richland Township Judi Smith, Warminster Township Mrilyn Stecker, Milford Township Ray Stepnoski, Buckingham Township Mary Stover, Pennoni Associates Elizabeth Sunday, Plumstead Township Jeff Vey, Milford Township Greta Martin Washington, Pennoni Associates Erich Wendel, Middletown Township Gail Weniger, Warwick Township Virginia Wheeler, Warminster Municipal Authority Preliminary Remarks Gail Weniger called the meeting to order, announced the morning's agenda, and thanked Doylestown Township for sponsoring the March meeting of the Bucks County Consortium. Approval of Minutes Joe Czajkowski made a motion, seconded by Bob Pellegrino, to approve the Minutes of February 2, 2006. Motion carried. Treasurer’s Report Richard Sabol presented the Treasurer’s Report prepared by the Treasurer for February. The ending balance for February is $19,576.01. A motion was made by Bob Pellegrino, and seconded by Joe Czajkowski, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for February. Motion carried. Presentation: “Demystifying the Sewage Facilities Plan Revision Process for Municipal Officials” & “Local Government Act 537 Role” Patrick DiGagni and David W. Connell of CKS Engineers, Inc. presented the topic “Demystifying the Sewage Facilities Plan Revision Process for Municipal Officials”, and it was done in close association with a second presentation, “Local Government Act 537 Role”, which was presented by Clinton Cleaver of the Department of Environmental Protection. The discussion topics were comprised of two sub-topics. First, the plan revision process for new land developments and a municipality’s responsibility in that process. And second, specifically what a municipality should do when they receive a planning module submission. The regulations relating to the municipality’s responsibility include PA Code, Title 25, sections 71.52 which identify the content requirements for new land development revisions, and section 71.53 which identify municipal administration of new land development planning requirements for revisions. Copies of the sections were distributed to all attendees. Planning modules were then summarized. DEP makes the determination if a project is exempt. For on-lot disposal systems the project must be consistent with the official plan, be comprised of at least one acre, the lot must be tested and suitable for primary and replacement systems, the area can’t be underlain by carbonate geology or near water supplies having high concentrations of nitrates, and the area must be outside high quality or exceptional value watersheds. For public sewerage areas the project must be consistent with the official plan, existing facilities must have capacity and no overload can exist or be projected within five years, existing facilities must be in compliance with the Clean Streams Law, and the project can not require a Clean Streams Law permit. The speakers then identified several components of the planning modules. These included: exception to the requirement to revise the official plan, individual and community on-lot disposal of sewage, sewage collection and treatment facilities, small flow treatment facilities, and planning agency or health department review. In each of these areas municipal oversight was discussed. The topic concluded with a discussion of the formal completeness review, technical review, and municipal adoption. To aid in the understanding of this topic several handouts were presented and these included “resolution for plan revision for new land development,” “PA Code, Title 25, Subchapter C – New Land Development Plan Revisions”, “Sewage Facilities Planning Modules”, and “Municipal Planning Module Reviews”.Fuel Committee Report John Cornelius of the Fuel Committee discussed recent problems associated with fuel bidding. He explained that bidders would be reluctant to submit bids because of price volatility and the availability of new products. He stated that the Fuel Committee suggests that the Bucks County Consortium reduce the period of lock-in from sixty days to thirty days. Joe Czajkowski made a motion, seconded by Bob Pellegrino, to reduce the fixed price period to thirty days. Motion carried. The membership then discussed the contract languages impact on smaller vendors, the utilization of the state contract, new fuel requirements and how that will impact member’s vehicles and equipment, etc. Presentation: “Recent Changes to the UCC (HB 881)” Rich O’Brian presented the topic “Recent Changes to the UCC (HB881)”. The changes include those related to the composition of the Board of Appeals, hearing timetables, inaction approvals (administrative vs. technical approvals), fee structuring, training, etc. New & Old Business Gail Weniger notified the membership that a future meeting would be held for a Public Works Director Association, and that in April ICMA would be holding a regional summit. She asked that members provide suggestions for future meeting topics. Jeff Vey discussed member training needs, and made some suggestions for its implementation. Adjourn Bob Pellegrino made a motion, seconded by Joe Czajkowski, to adjourn the meeting at 11:10AM. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, ___________________ |