Supervisors may mandate hookups for Monacy Manor
By Jamie Richard, Staff Writer, The Times
WEST BRANDYWINE – The township’s Board of Supervisors discussed the possibility of creating a new sewer district in order to require residents within the district to hook up to a public sewer, Thursday.
The proposed sewer district would only affect residents of Monacy Manor. Some supervisors expressed concern over residents who did not connect to the public sewer after promising to do so when the lines were first installed.
According to Supervisor William Webb, the municipal authority is facing a financial shortfall. Webb, who is also the chairman of the municipal authority, said that requiring all the residents of Monacy Manor to connect to the system would help lessen the shortfall through tapping fees and ongoing payments. There are currently 26 residences in Monacy Manor that have not connected.
“We’re just trying to recoup some of our improvements,” said Webb.
At its last meeting, the board attempted to pass a motion that required all residents within 150 feet of a public sewer line to connect to it; the motion failed to be seconded and did not reach a vote.
Chairman Josef Obernier said he initially opposed to the idea of requiring residents to connect to the system, but he did support the creation of a new district that would require the residents of Monacy Manor to hook up. According to Obernier, the municipal authority relied on the residents’ assurance to connect when they decided to build the system.
“The original analysis that made the project financially viable was based on those responses,” said Obernier.
Supervisor Thomas McCaffrey said he remains against the proposal, citing that residents are still required to connect to a public sewer system if their own system fails or they sell there home.
“I do not want to force people to connect to something when they do not need it simply because times have changed and money has gotten short,” said McCaffrey.
McCaffrey also added that he did feel that the Monacy Manor homes would generate enough revenue to have a significant impact on the authority’s budget, claiming that it would only be a 2% increase in connections. He suggested placing a lien on the properties that have not yet connected.
Webb said he felt that placing liens would not be cost effective. He added that detecting failing systems would be difficult since the county no longer inspects septic systems; tracking real estate sales would also prove challenging because the township does not require an inspection of homes when sold.
No definitive decision was reached on the matter, but the board directed township manager Ronald Rambo to meet with the township solicitor and municipal authority to discuss the viability and details of creating a new sewer district.
The board of supervisors will have its next meeting on Nov. 1.
As the dissenting supervisor in all the voting that went on, I wanted to clear up a few details in what was stated here. First, it should be added that connection fees are always going up. As the system expands, the cost to connect rises due to many factors. It is in the best interests of all in that area to connect now, rather than later when these costs go even higher. Connection fees have gone up twice already. That being said, I believe some sort of financing arrangement could be made through the authority so the connection cost would not have a big impact.
Personally, I do not want to do anything, but in the face of comments that because I opposed use and occupancy inspections (and fees)to simply sell a home, the Township now has no way to trace when a property in that area changes hands (to alert both buyer and seller the connection is required) I suggested the lean concept (which is really only a note associated with the deed that buyer and seller would see prior to sale). I don’t want to see the Authority place liens, but if it will serve to notify everyone a connection is required upon sale of the home, it seems better than requiring immediate connection at the full current price.
Councilman McCaffrey’s points are very well stated. This is a tough economy, and forcing people to connect to the sewer prior to the failure of their private system, or sale of the property is a good point.
If the Township can mandate connect when private systems fail or homes are sold then they will ensure compliance in the long run.
Until then the Twp may be able to increase revenues by encouraging residents to recycle and then sell the collections through the Co-Op that’s organized within Chester County (W Goshen?). Nancy Fromnick of the Chester County Recycling Center should be able to give more information about the Co-Op and how profitable the group has been.