Christopher M. Doelling

The meeting addressed multiple key areas, commencing with the opening of the regular session and confirmation of public notice compliance. Board related activities included the administering of the Oath of Office to a returning member. Significant financial actions involved authorizing payment of stipulated penalties totaling $33,000.00 under a Consent Decree with USEPA, USDOJ, and NJDEP related to incinerator operations, and approving a resolution to appoint Brown and Brown Metro, LLC as the Risk Management Consultant for 2026. Furthermore, a threshold of $53,000.00 was established for requiring Russia-Belarus certifications from vendors. In planning and administration, detailed reports were given on wastewater flow capacities across multiple treatment plants and required flowmeter data adjustments due to equipment maintenance issues, including bypasses at Hopewell WWTP and issues at Millstone Pump Station and Princeton Forrestal Connector. A Treatment Works Approval application for Eden Autism Services, Inc. was approved, involving the connection of new school buildings to the public sanitary sewer system. The maintenance report detailed significant repairs, including addressing failures in the Sludge Cake Storage Hopper Drive No. 7, replacing a gearbox on Schwing Pump #6, repairing the Sludge Storage Tank Mixer, and fixing a failed bearing on a Disk Filter Drive. The construction report included awarding a professional services contract to ELECSYS Engineering Group, PLLC for the Remote Pumping Stations Main Substation Replacement Project not to exceed $295,000, and rejecting all bids for the River Road WWTP Operations Building HVAC Upgrade Project due to the bid substantially exceeding the appropriation. The operations section noted the acceptance of sludge cake from SRVSA due to their incinerator being offline and detailed coordination efforts with municipal collection system operators. The finance section approved payment of bills and claims totaling $2,101,784.72, processed under a two-signature authorization.

The meeting addressed several critical areas, including flow data reporting across various treatment plants, confirming flowmeter certifications, and discussing inflow and infiltration mitigation strategies. Major actions involved approving two Treatment Works Approval (TWA) applications: one for Princeton Nurseries for a new pumping station and force main generating 264,214 gpd, and another for AST South Brunswick Urban Renewal for a 304-unit residential building generating 55,050 gpd. Regulatory updates covered the submission of October 2025 Discharge Monitoring Reports and receipt of a pre-draft Title V operating permit. Safety discussions highlighted 129 consecutive days without a lost time accident and progress on Priority 1 safety suggestions. Litigation updates included a status conference regarding contested issues and the submission of a PFAS brief. Operational reviews detailed repairs to receiving bin ramps and sludge feed screws, the ongoing bypass pumping system at Hopewell WWTP, and progress on Phase II of the Asset Management Plan. Major construction resolutions authorized contract amendments for 2026 General Environmental Consulting services related to the NJPDES Permit, necessitating additional nitrate sampling, and for 2026 Incinerator Stack Testing services. Contract 25-11 for the Meter Station Number 6 Rehabilitation Project was awarded to VNL, Inc. for $185,000.00. Other design efforts reviewed included the River Road WWTP Phosphorus Impact Modeling Study, the Pump Stations Substations Replacement Study, and evaluation of the RTO Media and Force Draft Fan Replacement Project. Financially, the Board approved payment of bills totaling $2,501,338.40, adopted the Participants' Estimated Charges for Fiscal Year 2026, and authorized the funding of the Capital Improvement Fund with $6,000,000.00.

The meeting included several key actions and reports. The Board approved annual professional services contracts for Fiscal Year 2026, including agreements for General Incinerator Engineering Services, General Electrical Engineering Services, General Engineering Consulting Services, General Environmental Consulting Services on NJPDES Permits, and General Environmental and Title V Operating Permit Consulting Services. The Board also authorized contracts for Fiscal Year 2026 Labor/Employment Counsel and General Counsel. Furthermore, a resolution was passed to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 Audit contract. The Board authorized the execution of a Settlement Agreement with NJDEP regarding a Pennington WWTP effluent discharge limitation exceedance from August 2024, which included a monetary penalty of $1,000.00. Operational reports detailed facility flows, maintenance activities such as gearbox and bearing replacements, and safety status, noting 97 consecutive days without a Lost Time accident. An annual resolution was passed to authorize payment of budgeted and/or non-discretionary expenses up to $5,000, an increase from the previous year's limit due to inflation. The Authority also established the regular meeting dates for Calendar Year 2026.

The meeting included a public hearing regarding the Authority's proposed Rate Schedule for fiscal year 2020, where rates remained the same as in 2019 except for changes to the Liquid Sludge Notes. The Board adopted the 2020 Rate Schedule and set regular meeting dates for 2020. They also designated the official newspaper and authorized a contract for 2020 Labor/Employment Counsel. Updates were provided on planning and administration, including monthly flow transmittal and regulatory reports. Safety, litigation, and operations reports were reviewed, along with maintenance and construction updates. Financial matters were discussed, including payment of bills and claims, the treasurer's report, and the adoption of the 2020 Cash Management Plan. The appointment of a Public Agency Compliance Officer was approved.

The Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority held a public hearing and a regularly scheduled meeting. Key discussion points included the 2026 Rate Schedule, covering rates for liquid sludge, sludge cake, gray water, and special waste, with proposed rate changes due to rising utility costs and capital investments in biosolids handling facilities. The board also discussed flowmeter verifications, regulatory reports, safety, litigation, and operations, including facility upgrades and maintenance. Additionally, the board addressed financial matters such as budget adoption, bill payments, and participation in cooperative purchasing programs. They also covered personnel matters, new business including proprietary replacement parts for Schwing pumps, and an executive session regarding the Local 172 Union Contract.