Jul 13, 2007 By Amanda Clegg 4 min read

CALIFORNIA – From their auditor to their solicitor, borough council listened to suggestions and news about the borough’s sewerage plan at their regular meeting Thursday evening. Cypher & Cypher summarized the borough’s 2006 audit report at the beginning of the meeting, suggesting that council look into having one person handle the sewage billing and another handle the collection. Currently one person does both.

Zeroing in on another sewage matter, council voted to get quotes from engineers to arrange a peer review for the borough’s sewerage project. A peer review means that another engineer would look over the current engineer’s plan and then make cost-saving suggestions, President Jon Bittner explained.

Phase I of the project, coming in at approximately $11 million, is nearly $4 million over budget. Of that budget $6.8 million is in the form of a PENNVEST loan. Phase II of the project is estimated to exceed $10 million.

A peer review is not needed unless a project exceeds a $10 million threshold, Bittner explained, adding that council is applying for more money from PENNVEST for Phase I, so a peer review may be needed for that phase as well.

Council also voted to increase the sewage bill to $30 a month effective with the Oct. billing cycle and begin billing monthly instead of quarterly.

Councilman Jim Maddiex, who voted against increasing the rate, asked to make allowances for any confusion during the switch. Alfano explained that was why he wanted to give public notice three months prior to the switch.

Following the suggestion of Solicitor Keith Melenyzer, council also voted to request a 60-day extension on the original 120-day bid period from low bidders, because the funding for the sewerage projects is not in place yet.

Council also agreed to enter into an inter-municipal agreement with West Brownsville to sewage the Krofcheck Family Commercial Development property off of Route 40.

Melenyzer explained that West Brownsville could not afford to sewage the property, but is looking for a funding source so as to possibly make a deal with Wal-Mart or another retailer.

“Nobody is saying (Wal-Mart), but then West Brownsville would be able to say they are covered to somebody like Wal-Mart,” Melenyzer noted, adding that the agreement would be at no cost to California.

“Any upgrading needed to be done to the pump station someone else would have to pay other than the borough,” he explained, adding that items, such as, the appropriate tap-in fees would be negotiated.

Alfano estimated that approximately half of a sewage line would run through California.

Mayor Casey Durdines noted that the borough should pay for the line that is in California, adding that doing so would be beneficial, because of potential residential or commercial development.

In another sewerage related matter, council announced that meeting with the bond representatives is scheduled for 6 p.m. on July 24 in the borough building.

In an unrelated matter, a resident complained to council about the condition of the property located at 988 Cross Street. She explained that the property is in violation of borough codes with water dripping from the kitchen sink, the bathroom ceiling falling in and the windows nailed shut because “they’re ready to fall out.”

Bittner noted that he spoke with the code enforcement officer, who spoke with the owner. Bittner indicated that the owner invested $1.3 million into the property.

“I certainly hope that anyone spending $1.3 million would bring the apartment building up to code,” he added.

Council also conducted the following business:

Renewed the worker’s compensation for the state workers’ insurance fund at a cost of $82,181, which consists of more than five mills of tax.

Voted to pay $2,405 for updated sewage billing software.

Agreed to send Doug Baker to Pennsylvania Rural Water training.

Announced a bid opening at 1:15 p.m. July 26 for the 2007 street program.

Announced that the steering committee for the Wellness Center is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. June 19 in the Phillipsburg School.

Accepted an American flag donated by Maddiex for use outside. The flag was made in America and purchased locally, Maddiex noted.

Accepted a letter of resignation from a part-time police officer and agreed to advertise for another.

Voted to pay $345 to switch the speed-check equipment from the old police vehicle to the new police vehicle.

Announced the next community meeting to be held at 6:30 p.m. July 31 in the borough building.

Reminded residents that a four-way stop sign was installed at Fourth and Union streets.

Council continued the meeting until 5:30 p.m. July 24 for general purposes.