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Curwensville authority updated on contract
Thursday, October 11, 2012
By Dianne Byers Staff Writer
CURWENSVILLE - Members of Curwensville Municipal Authority were updated on progress with the workers' contract and the status of several projects during last night's meeting.
Rick Carfley and Rebecca Anderson, authority members who serve on the negotiations committee, reported they met twice with a representative of the United Mine Workers - the union representing the authority's three employees.
Carfley said the committee gave some recommendations on equipment, salaries and health care benefits and is now waiting to see whether its proposal is accepted or there is a counter-offer. When the terms are acceptable to both parties, votes will be taken to ratify the agreement.
The current employees' contract expires Dec. 31.
Andy Glitzer of CET Engineering Services, Huntingdon, reported the authority is still waiting on the state Department of Environmental Protection to issue a National Pollutant Elimination Discharge Systems permit. It is required to complete an upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant and collection system mandated to be compliant with the Chesapeake Bay Strategy, which that requires wastewater treatment plants to reduce or eliminate nitrogen and phosphorus from their discharge.
Glitzer said as part of the application for the permit, originally sent in 2007, DEP recently required effluent toxicity testing. The testing was completed and results and corresponding paperwork sent to DEP. He said he is still waiting to hear whether the testing is acceptable to DEP.
Larry Opalisky, chairman, asked whether the project is still on schedule. Glizter said it is behind according to his company's timeline, but is still on schedule with deadlines set by DEP and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Glitzer also reported work is being wrapped up quickly on the authority's project to replace a bar screen at the treatment plant and upgrade the Park Avenue pumping station. The screen will be put into use Oct. 23 when a representative from the manufacturer will come to place the screen online and train the employees in using and cleaning it. A substantial completion is set for Oct. 29 and the project will be finalized by Nov. 19, he said.
The pumping station will be put into use Tuesday he said. A second pump will be installed Monday and all that remains to do will be some cleanup and miscellaneous items.
Fred Nesiwender, solicitor, and Sue Williams, the authority's office manager, reported letters have been sent to customers the authority has not heard from in regard to replacing their lateral connections. An ordinance adopted by Curwensville Borough Council required customers whose laterals were constructed of terra cotta or another inferior material to replace them by Dec. 31, 2010.
Williams said some customers have contacted her and are working to make arrangements to have their connections replaced.
The authority's next meeting is Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Curwensville Borough municipal building.
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