Salem Township approves intergovernmental agreement to fix Cloverleaf sewer defects

Salem Township supervisors on July 17 approved Resolution 19-2024 to enter an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority to correct grade 4 and 5 defects in the township's public sewer lines in the Cloverleaf/Delmont area.

The action, approved by Supervisors Kerry Jobe and Bob Zundel with Supervisor Kenneth Trumbetta recorded absent, responds to a Consent Order and Agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requiring the township to stop stormwater infiltration and complete repairs. Supervisor Kerry Jobe said cameraing work was covered by a grant and that the remaining grant funds will be applied toward 26 identified repairs. He estimated the repairs will cost about $109,000 and said FTMSA can perform the work in-house.

The agreement directs the sanitary authority to implement corrective work to bring the system into compliance with the DEP consent order. The board recorded the motion and vote in the meeting minutes as part of routine business on July 17.

The resolution authorizes coordination with FTMSA to prioritize required repairs, apply available grant funds to the cameraing and repair work, and use FTMSA staff and resources to complete the scope at the estimated cost. No further timeline for completion was specified in the minutes.

The board's approval formalizes the township's next step toward complying with the DEP order; residents concerned about sewer overflows and stormwater infiltration will now have the repairs scheduled through the intergovernmental arrangement.