 |
July 2009 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Johnsonburg Municipal Authority sets Friday meeting |
|
|
|
Wednesday, 16 July 2008 |
Members to meet to discuss re-hiring engineers to work on Phase II of wastewater system upgrade.
By Heidi Zemach
Special to The Ridgway Record
JOHNSONBURG – The Johnsonburg Municipal Authority Board Members tried, but failed, to come to an agreement to hire Uni-Tec Consulting Engineers, the firm that designed and oversaw Phase I of the almost-completed wastewater system upgrade for Phase Two.
The phase involves the design and construction of a new wastewater system upgrade/treatment plant. With the two Uni-Tec engineers present, Board member Doug Haupright said he didn’t think the Board was ready to make that agreement during the meeting — especially with Board members Dick Cherry and Hud Caldwell absent. Attempting to see if the four members alone could approve it, both Haupright and Robert Stump refused to make the motion. Then Chairman Dale DeLong said he was not allowed to make the motion, leaving only Richard Smith. Smith’s motion died for lack of a second.
Uni-Tec Engineer Dan Guss pleaded for the board to make a decision soon as every phase of the next phase has already been scheduled, and a delay could affect all of the other parts. The design is scheduled to start August 1 under a consent order of the Department of Environmental Protection. Bids are to be opened May 1, and construction begun June 1 of 2009, Guss said. This schedule is needed in order for the board to apply for the needed permits, and obtain financing through PENNVEST, the company financing Phase I.
Saying the Authority had no fallback plan, or alternative but to continue with Uni-Tec, DeLong and the others nevertheless agreed to hold a short workshop and special meeting Friday at 1 p.m. to discuss, and decide the matter, when a full board is present.
Following an executive session with their solicitor, the Board voted to take legal action against Bill Feronti of Powers Avenue, for civil damages of a yet-undetermined amount. Feronti allegedly cut down a tree on Municipal Authority property, and in doing so broke a feed line running to the water plant.
In his report, Dan Guss said Uni-Tec had agreed to accept some responsibility for change orders by Bison Contracting, and credit the Municipal Authority for $17,900 to settle its claims, issued in $1,000 increments over an 18-month period.
All new pump stations are now operational, and the old ones have been turned off or junked —except for Johnson’s Run, Guss said. What remains is paving and restoration, including fencing and landscaping. Uni-Tec engineer Denny Lingenfelter said the Authority should expect the next PENNVEST payment for Phase I work in four weeks. All sewers are now done, except for a crossing at Power’s Run. The air testing was a success and the paving is completed, except for a crossing at Route 219 and certain parking areas.
Insurance underwriter Jeff Azzato, the owner of Smith–Keats in Johnsonburg gave a presentation clarifying the requirements of an insurance company that could underwrite and provide coverage for the Municipal board, the Authority and its employees. The company will pay up to one million dollars for legal claims, with a $1,000 deductible. But it is unwilling to insure the Municipal Authority unless certain guidelines are met. First, the Authority must answer a questionnaire about how it handles employee grievances or other claims such as sexual harassment, ageism charges or unfair hiring or firing practices. It must also create a comprehensive employee manual detailing these types of things, and including regular employee evaluations. Finally, the company would like the authority to appoint a person to be the risk manager or to oversee that the handbook is being followed, and to act as a liaison in times of difficulties.
Not having either an employee handbook, or a written method of handling grievances, DeLong voiced concerns about having to reinvent the wheel. But the Authority finally agreed it was best to do so, with the help of the employee handbooks of the Johnsonburg Borough and possibly other local municipal authorities. They agreed to proceed with the application process. |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 July 2008 )
|
|
|
|
