Stephen Blankenship

The agenda for this meeting centers heavily around reorganization matters, including the appointment of key officers such as Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary through multiple resolutions. It also addresses the reappointment of professional service contracts, including Solicitor, Bond Counsel, Engineer, Auditor, and various consultants. The consent agenda covers banking designations, authority appointments for employees, authorization for purchasing through state contracts, designation of meeting times and official newspapers, and approval of routine bills and fund transfers for capital improvements. The regular agenda includes action items regarding final commercial applications, review of bid results for pump stations, approval of multiple change orders for the Townbank Road Interceptor Lining & Manhole Rehabilitation Project and Diamond Beach PS Force Main Appurtenance Vaults Rehabilitation Project, awarding a contract for Rotary Press rebuild, and ratifying an emergency repair contract. Administrative reports from the Solicitor, Engineer, and Executive Director are also scheduled.

The agenda for this meeting is structured around Reorganization, Professional Services Contracts, a Reorganization Consent Agenda, a Consent Agenda, and a Regular Agenda. Key items for Reorganization include the appointment of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and Executive Director as Authority Officer. The Professional Services Contracts section covers resolutions for Solicitor, Bond Counsel, Engineer, Special Projects Engineers, Auditor, and SCADA and Instrumentation Consultant. The Reorganization Consent Agenda involves designating officers for invoice review, issuing a Notice to Trustee, designating a depository of funds, and various Authority Employee appointments including Affirmative Action Officer and Public Agency Compliance Officer. The Consent Agenda addresses the approval of bills, including operating expenses and significant transfers from the Sturdy Capital Improvement Fund Account for Sewer and Water Capital items, as well as a Customer Change Resolution. The Regular Agenda focuses on certifying the Annual Report of Audit, amending the Capitalization Policy and Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Billing Disputes, and recommendations for awarding contracts for several capital projects such as the Water Supply System Feasibility Study, Wastewater Treatment Plant Security Fencing, Ocean Drive Sewage Force Main By-Pass Assembly, and Town Bank Road projects. Administrative Reports from the Solicitor, Engineer, Financial Report, and Executive Director are also scheduled.

The meeting addressed the determination of a quorum and adhered to Sunshine Law requirements. Key items approved under the Consent Agenda included routine bill payments for operating expenses and transfers between capital improvement and operating accounts to cover sewer and water capital expenditures, as well as a Customer Change Resolution. The Regular Agenda focused on adopting protocols for remote public meetings during a declared state of emergency, awarding a contract for financial services to Romano, Hearing, Testa & Knorr, approving Change Order #2 - Final for the Schellinger's Landing Sanitary Sewer Improvements, and awarding a contract to Air Purifiers, Inc., for an Odor Control System at the Sludge Handling Buildings. Administrative reports covered the closing of the Covenant Bible Church subdivision, the status of the brown water situation, delays in the Bayshore Road Water Main Replacement Phase II due to valve procurement, and the adjustment in scope for the Star Ave sewer line lining project. The Executive Director detailed plans to implement SCADA across pump stations using funds freed up by the Schellinger's Landing change order to monitor rainwater inflow and reduce effluent charges. Discussions also occurred regarding the accrual of interest on sewer utility payments, with an agreement not to charge interest for either water or sewer utilities. Finally, the Executive Director confirmed the resumption of two working shifts to ensure operational continuity in case of a virus outbreak.

The meeting included discussions and actions on various financial matters, including the approval of bills and resolutions for customer changes and fund transfers for capital improvements and developer items. An audit report was presented with no findings or recommendations, and the audit's acceptance was resolved. The board also addressed a change order for a water main extension project, awarded professional services contracts for a water tank project, and discussed administrative reports from the solicitor and engineer. Infrastructure repairs, a flow study, and a shared service agreement proposal were also discussed. The plan to bring the Scott Avenue Water Tower back into service to implement repairs on the Shunpike Water Tower was mentioned.

The meeting included discussion and approval of the consent agenda, covering items such as the approval of minutes from the previous meeting, approval of bills, and authorization of transfers from the Sturdy Capital Improvement Fund Account to the Sturdy Operating Account for sewer and water capital items. The regular agenda included the ratification of the late introduction and submission of the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Budget, a budget presentation, and discussion of the Sewer and Water Capital Plans. Additionally, there were discussions on amending a contract for a sewer main interceptor rehab project, authorizing investment funds in the New Jersey Asset & Rebate Management Program, the AT & T Shunpike Tower Lease, sludge thickening equipment evaluation, sewer lining projects, and the Del Haven Water Project. The public raised concerns about sewer line issues and storm sewer catch basins.