Franklin Township Sewage Authority: pump station work continues; DEP access license delays Western Canal project

Joseph Danielson, executive director and special project manager for the Franklin Township Sewage Authority, reported progress on multiple infrastructure projects and flagged a regulatory delay that could slow one major rebuild.

At the meeting Danielson said the High Bay Garage project “continues to haunt us with the Delaware Raritan Canal Commission,” and that progress on that and other projects is proceeding slowly but steadily. He told the authority that two easement models have been put forward for consideration to surrender a portion of development rights to the Delaware Raritan Canal Commission (DRCC) as part of negotiations on affected sites.

The authority is advancing several pump station projects. Danielson said the Somerset Street pump station rehabilitation experienced a small delay because of severe cold weather; concrete slabs and a new channel grinder have been installed for the project. Work on the Brookline Avenue rehabilitation is under way and “manhole-to-manhole cured-in-place pipe lining” is about 19% complete, he reported.

Danielson said the Commerce Street Drive pump station — across the street from authority offices — is under shop-drawing review and that staff continue to expect long lead times for materials. The Rodney Avenue pump station has two new channel grinders installed by authority staff, he said.

On funding, Danielson said the authority submitted planning and design invoices under American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants in January and expects to submit construction/building-cost invoices to Somerset County and Franklin Township in February. He said roughly $82,500 has been submitted so far from a Somerset County $3,000,000 grant.

The Western Canal pump station rebuild is in a holding pattern while the authority awaits legal review of an access license request for a small strip of DEP-owned land. Danielson said that review has been estimated to take “up to between now and November,” and added, “we're in a complete holding pattern until we get that approved or PSEG is successful in getting them to sell it to them.”

Operations and maintenance updates included a township-wide gravity sewer flushing program that logged roughly 22,000 feet of flushing and about 1,400 feet of CCTV inspections last month. Danielson also reported zero accidents and zero new connections for the month.

Doctor Roach, who gave a brief update on the finance-platform migration, said the authority is finishing phase 1 of the Edmonds finance migration (the finance/escrow/grants work) and plans to begin training for phase 2, the utility-billing migration, in May so the changeover aligns with the start of the fiscal year.

Danielson also noted a second flow meter and study at Harrison Towers were installed Jan. 24 after the building received a new water meter; the study will allow a before-and-after comparison of water use and sewer flow. He reported staff changes: the authority’s bookkeeper submitted a resignation and the authority will advertise to refill the position; a retired former staff member has been offered a part-time role.

The authority continues preparatory work for long-term financing of the Marcy Street sanitary sewer rehabilitation. Danielson said bond counsel advised the authority to file an application with the local finance board — a required step for the permanent loan closing — and that the authority will submit that application (a related resolution appears on tonight’s agenda and was approved).