CLARKS GREEN – During the Clarks Green Council meeting via Zoom, July 15, Councilman Dave Rinaldi, in his ARWA (Abington Regional Wastewater Authority) report, said that ARWA has a significant amount of investments that were making two-and-a-half to three percent. He mentioned that when ARWA borrowed for the expansion and upgrade of the plant, the interest, which ARWA was paying, was less than the receipts of the investments.
“The interest rate has fallen out,” he said. “And the authority can no longer essentially make money and pay the interest.”
Rinaldi mentioned that the board on the recommendation of ARWA treasurer Paul Murphy decided to retire $790,000 worth of debt. He said that as long as the interest rate stays the same and the CD’s become finished, ARWA will be reducing the debt. Also, Rinaldi announced that ARWA will redo the website. He also said that one of the plant’s air compressors has developed difficulties so the board authorized the purchase of a new compressor.
In his public works report, Rinaldi said that Pennsylvania American Water finished paving of Shorthill, Gordon, and Crest Drives. He said that the tarring of Crest Drive is only halfway complete. He said that he sent an email to the water company about the residents’ front yards not being restored after the pave work. He said that the company also hasn’t cleaned the asphalt that was spilled in the catch basins. He asked Solicitor Al Weinschenk about whether or not to let PUC (Public Utilities Commission) know.
“It might be a viable option for the borough next month if we haven’t gotten those items taken care of,” Rinaldi said.
Weinschenk agreed.
Rinaldi said that the water company formed asphalt curves, which are part of the stormwater system.
“As long as those curves stay up, it’s going to keep water out of those yards,” he said. Rinaldi said that the engineers are working on a paving kit, which will have alternates or add-ons for three other streets. “When we get the pricing back, we’ll determine how for the borough can go back on what our financial position is in the middle of this year,” he said. “We know we’re going to be somewhat light in our revenue because of the pandemic.”
Rinaldi said he hopes to the bid package will be ready so that council can advertise this during next month’s meeting and maybe award them in September.
In his personnel report, councilman Keith Williams mentioned that the committee would like to make an addition to the holiday section of the policy. He said that if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the borough provides Friday off, and if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the borough provides Monday off. He said that the last complete policy back in 2014 didn’t have this provision.
“Whatever reason, that individual policy did not get into the works,” he said.
Williams said that he will create the language for this policy ready by the work session in August.
During public comment, Rick Williams, volunteer of the Clarks Green Shade Tree Commission, said that the commission is in need of a new chairman.
“If we’re going to do a fall plant-in, the volunteers can go ahead and get the trees on order,” he said.
Williams said the candidate doesn’t have to be a tree-planter as long as he or she can do clerical work. President Joe Barrasse said that Council will try to find someone to replace Peter Giermanski as chairman.
