Hamlin Township and Mt. Jewett Regional Sewer Authority Contract in Stages of Negotiation

Hamlin Township Supervisors and the Mount Jewett Regional Sewer Authority continue to negotiate a contract regarding Hamlin's usage of the Authority's ponds for sewage waste. The areas being discussed are Lantz Corners and Campbelltown and negotiations began in March 2022.

President of the Authority, Ernie Rankin, and Vice-president Brian Sees attended the Hamlin Township Regular Board Meeting on Monday. Rankin asked the Hamlin Supervisors why they have not signed the contract agreement yet.

"You are going by the new rates, that's why we figured you're okay with the contract. And we dropped Campbelltown," he stated.

Hamlin Supervisor Jim Trussell said the contract they have is from March 7 of 2022.

Hamlin Supervisor, Jim Myers, said the percentage of the pond cleaning was not in favor of the Hamlin Township.

"I don't recall getting a revised edition of the contract," Myers said.

Rankin said the Authority's solicitor stated at last Wednesday's meeting that he would send a new contract to the Hamlin Township Supervisors.

Hamlin Township's Secretary/treasurer, Cheryl Putnam, confirmed a revised contract has not been received.

Due to the Hamlin Supervisors not being in favor of various changes to the contract received in March of last year, they had asked that the contract be revised and resent to them. Trussell said they did not get an updated copy and would need one. He asked that Rankin talk to the Authority's solicitor and see if there is an updated one. Rankin said again that the solicitor said he would send one.

"If there is a problem, would you communicate and give us a counter so that we know where we stand," Rankin asked.

Trussell said once the Board gets the contract from the solicitor they would discuss it and he would attend the Authority's March meeting.

Myers reviewed the old contract at hand

and said one thing that was talked about was the dredging of the pond.

"Dredging the lagoon - in the event that it is necessary that one or more of the Authority's lagoons, the Township should pay the Authority a percentage of the overall dredging," Myers read from the contract. Myers asked, "What is the percentage?"

Rankin said the Township was going to be prorated. Myers said he wants to know what the percentage is before signing the contract.

Rankin explained that they had discussed prorating them in a past discussion and does not know what the percentage is. Myers said it does not say the percentage amount in the contract and countered with, "We should get it in print."

Trussell added that they are not going to sign it when it only says "percentage".

Myers pointed out that it could be 10 percent but if the Authority has the pond(s) dredged and the Authority could say it is more like 60 percent. Rankin said they would be prorated for how many years they have been tied into the sewer.

Trussell said the percentage needs to be as close as it can be or be "right spot on".

Myers acknowledged that the Authority does not know when they will be dredging the pond(s) but there has to be a formula to be put in print.

Continuing to go back and forth about the percentage, Rankin said he did not look at the contract and is not sure what the wording was but knew the percentage was discussed.

Trussell said to see what the contract says once they receive it from the solicitor. Though this contract is in discussion and has been since 2022, a new one will be due to be signed in July of this year, Trussell added lastly.