Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority

The meeting focused on the adoption of numerous resolutions covering operational, administrative, and financial matters. Key topics included the execution of agreements for pump supplies, technical services, uniform rental, and stream monitoring. The Authority also awarded consulting contracts for air compliance and health and safety, approved an assignment of construction management contracts, and supported a university research project. Additional agenda items addressed personnel actions, such as salary increases, stipends, and hiring; the approval of the 2026 Budget; time extensions for financial advisor and bond counsel services; and the authorization of expense payments and the scheduling of a closed session for legal and contract negotiations.

The meeting focuses on the Supplemental Team efforts regarding the Long Term Control Plan. Key topics include reviewing previous efforts, discussing updated 2025 permit requirements, and evaluating current projects such as the Pennsauken disconnection, Gloucester City outfall rehabilitation, ongoing flow monitoring, and preliminary alternatives analysis. Additionally, the meeting covers upcoming financing opportunities, status updates on public engagement efforts, and soliciting public input regarding known areas of flooding.

The meeting included several key agenda items, starting with a public hearing on the revision of connection fees. Discussion topics covered contract amendments for the Cooper River Dredge Project, the implementation of competitive contracting for customer service and billing software, and the authorization of various national cooperative purchasing agreements for vehicles and equipment. The board approved multiple service agreements, including laboratory testing, carbon removal and retrofit, grit and scum collection, pump parts supply, and groundskeeping services. Additionally, the authority addressed organizational changes such as new hires, salary range adjustments, and employee stipends. Other actions involved the energy efficiency program agreement with PSE&G, a state agreement for infrastructure connection, professional consulting services for financial management and legal counsel, annual engineering service contract amendments, ratification of expense vouchers, and the approval of substantial disbursements from the revenue account. A closed session was also scheduled to address litigation, contract negotiations, and privileged attorney-client matters.

The document, a draft System Characterization Report, details the physical nature and hydraulic performance of the combined sewer system shared by the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA), the City of Camden, and Gloucester City. Key discussion points include the necessity of preparing a NJDEP-required Combined Sewer Overflow System Management Plan via an intermunicipal agreement. Findings indicate that 68% of wet weather flow is captured for treatment under baseline conditions, leading to combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and surface flooding (32% combined). Crucial control strategies involve cleaning Camden's sewer pipes to restore capacity, implementing green stormwater infrastructure, expanding CCMUA's WPCF capacity (currently designed to increase from 150 to 185 mgd), and optimizing system elements like regulators and pump stations. Water quality analysis identified pathogens as the primary driver for CSO control, with standards not being met in the Cooper River and Newton Creek for primary contact recreation, though the Delaware River's secondary contact use was supported.

The authority budget includes discussion of the fiscal year 2024 proposed annual budget and a comparison to the fiscal year 2023 adopted budget for revenues and appropriations. It addresses the impact of the local/regional economy on the proposed annual budget and capital program. The budget also explains the reasons for utilizing unrestricted net position, sources of funds transferred to the County/Municipality, and a plan to eliminate any accumulated deficit. It also covers the authority's existing and proposed rate structure, health benefits, shared service agreements, and accumulated absence liability.