Summit Hill water rates will increase by $1

Water rates will slightly increase by $1 as of March 1 of this year following a long range schedule that annually increases the water slightly to prevent large rate increases from occurring according to a unanimous vote passed at the reorganizational meeting of the Summit Hill Water Authority.

"We realize times are difficult for people and we do not want to create a hardship on them by holding back and increasing in large increments so we add a $1 to the minimum rate once a year in an attempt to affordably keep up with our costs," said President John Michalik.

There was some discussion as to whether March was the correct month but upon checking records it was learned that the last increase was in the previous March.

In other business, the Authority also unanimously adopted its operating budget for 2010 which included a cost of living adjustment for the staff.

Carbon Engineering representative Mike Tirpak informed the board that DEP is now requiring that all residents be notified in the case of a break in the system or any situation that mandates a boil-water advisory. Previously the authority notified the television and radio stations. Tirpak said the new law that goes into effect in May will require the authority to personally notify all the residents.

Coincidentally, DEP also provided the name of a company that does automated phone dialing for just such cases. Tirpak said the annual cost was $1800 a year for the contract, but he felt they could get similar results and satisfy the law by having either the police drive the streets using their loudspeaker or one of the crew using a bullhorn. He added they could still use the previous methods of notification but alone they are not sufficient to notify the public once the new law goes into effect.

All of the officers for the board were retained at the beginning of the meeting. Michalik will serve once again as Chairman, Robert Collevecchio is Vice Chairman, Patrick Kane is the Secretary, Joe O'Gurek is Treasurer and Ed Kruczek is the Assistant Treasurer. It was also agreed to retain all current appointments as well.

The 2010 meeting schedule for the Water Authority will be the third Tuesday of the month at 7PM with the exception of February, March, July and August when the meeting will be held on the third Wednesday and December 14th which is the second Tuesday. The next meeting will be February 17th at 7PM in the Borough building.