Sewer, pump-station and manhole projects move forward; authority reports $5 million ARPA grant for Brookline

The Franklin Township Authority provided multiple infrastructure updates at its March 3 meeting, including confirmation that it received a $5 million American Rescue Plan grant applied to the Brookline project and progress reports on sewer and pump-station work.

Executive Director Joe said the authority "were granted $5 million and we received $5 million" and that the money "all went to the Brookline project." He reported Brookline Avenue sewer rehabilitation is moving "smoothly but slowly," with staff and the vendor holding monthly progress meetings and a joint in-person meeting with the vendor scheduled for April 15 to address work pace concerns.

Commerce Drive pump-station work advanced after contractor PSCG completed the electrical bypass and cast-in-place concrete platform and stairs. The authority reported that temporary bypass is in production and that PSEG coordinated removal of service for demolition and replacement activities.

The board also discussed a manhole rehabilitation project on South Mobush Road to repair corrosion damage the authority attributed to corrosive flows from a neighboring development. Staff said 23 authority-owned manholes will be rehabilitated and that five privately owned manholes also show deterioration; Scott Nosero stated the project cost estimate was "just under 230" thousand dollars and that the work should take two to three weeks with anticipated completion mid to end of next week.

Board members said issues involving private-property manholes and indemnity language in an easement agreement will be discussed in executive session. The engineer has submitted a wetlands permit application for the Western Canal pump-station rebuild and the authority is finalizing an easement agreement whose indemnity clause was described as "overreaching."