Author: Delcora

DELCORA Hosting Public Virtual Meetings

November 3, 2020

DELCORA’s Executive Director, Bob Willert, announced final plans for hosting the November 2020 Committee Meetings & DELCORA Board of Directors Meeting by means of a virtual meeting platform known as Zoom. This is the same platform that was used for meetings beginning in April 2020 due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic.

During this unprecedented time the health and safety of our employees, our customers and the community is our number one priority. We would like to maintain business operation as close to normal as possible, with the ability to host virtual meetings this allows us to do just that.

1. Members of the public are invited to join each of the DELCORA Committee Meetings as well as the DELCORA Board of Directors Meeting.
2. For each meeting there is a different access link. You will find that below under the appropriate meeting you wish to participate in.

The following meetings listed below will each be held utilizing Zoom Technology:

Human Resources & Administration Committee Meeting – November 9, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the Human Resources & Admin. Committee Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82755467508?pwd=L0h0UThxMndSam9CNjR3aXBCempKUT09

Meeting ID: 827 5546 7508
Password: 630086

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

Strategic Planning & Goals Committee Meeting – November 9, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the Human Resources & Admin. Committee Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82755467508?pwd=L0h0UThxMndSam9CNjR3aXBCempKUT09

Meeting ID: 827 5546 7508
Password: 630086

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

Operations & Engineering Committee Meeting – November 10, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the Operations & Engineering Committee Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86703342695?pwd=d1RwR09ranVSaFdqWnNuM0tOUkN5QT09

Meeting ID: 867 0334 2695
Password: 893257

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

Finance Committee Meeting – November 12, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the Finance Committee Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82644680704?pwd=MFZVSkFndjA5aVRhS2h1bFhnejBKQT09

Meeting ID: 826 4468 0704
Password: 955823

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

DELCORA Board of Directors Meeting – November 17, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the DELCORA Board of Directors Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86988994792?pwd=RURLQ0hGYjIwNUV2RjZzclRnYmw0Zz09

Meeting ID: 869 8899 4792
Password: 087455

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

PUBLIC COMMENT/FORUM: Participants wishing to provide public comment will be able to do so by adhering to the following protocols:

When you join a Zoom meeting hosted by another user, you are considered an attendee. Beginning at 3:30 pm a public comment/forum will begin allowing anyone who wishes to speak publicly to be given 3 minutes. The public comment/forum time will only be at the beginning of each meeting. If there is no one from the public requesting to speak to the Board, the meeting will continue as usual.

There are 3 methods available to participate via Public Comment:

1. Zoom Chat/Phone – during the public meetings
2. Email public comment/question
3. Phone in public comment/question

If a public participant joins via the “zoom link” they can sign up by using the Zoom chat:

a) In your controls at the bottom window, click Chat. If you are on a mobile device, tap Participants, then Chat.
b) The chat window will open on the right side of your screen if you are not in full screen mode.
c) Please type your First and Last Name, Address and Topic of Discussion into the chat window to sign up for Public Comment and press Enter to send your message.
d) Public Comment will start promptly at 3:30 pm.
e) Time duration will be kept by the host and monitored to ensure the 3 minute time limit is adhered to.
f) Please be respectful of your time and others who may be awaiting their turn to speak as well.

If an individual chooses to join by phone and would like to participate in the public forum we ask for you to adhere to the following instructions:

a) When asked if there is anyone wishing to speak from the public, please at that time state your First and Last Name, Address and whether you have a question or comment.
b) The host will then call upon you again when it is your turn to speak.
c) If a question is asked a member of the Board or Staff will answer you question.
d) Again, public comment/forum will begin promptly at 3:30pm.

Public comments/questions may be submitted by email with the following information:

1) First & Last Name
2) Address
3) Comment/Questions

Emails can be sent immediately to: amadiol@delcora.org
If you do not have access to email you can call in your public comment to: 484-844-0482

Public meetings begin promptly at 3:30pm. All comments/questions sent in by Zoom chat/phone, email and phone will be read and addressed at the beginning of each meeting. Once all public comments/questions have been addressed the meeting will continue as usual.

Emailed or phoned/in comments deemed inappropriate will not be read into public record. Zoom chat/phone comments from an individual deemed inappropriate will force the host to remove that individual from the meeting and be removed from public record.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Will begin promptly at 3:30pm with the designated chair for each committee requesting those in attendance to engage in the Pledge of Allegiance. After, the meeting will commence as usual with the agenda for each given meeting.

DELCORA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Will begin promptly at 3:30pm with the Chairman of the Board requesting those in attendance to engage in the Pledge of Allegiance. After, the meeting will commence as usual with the final Board agenda based on Committee Meetings recommendations of business.

DELCORA Board of Directors is asking everyone to be patient as using remote technology is a new endeavor. The DELCORA Board encourages all residents to stay vigilant and follow the safety measures that have been provided by the Governor’s office, County Council and the State Health Departments.

DELCORA Hosting Public Virtual Meetings
August 10, 2020

DELCORA’s Executive Director, Bob Willert, announced final plans for hosting the August 2020 Committee Meetings & DELCORA Board of Directors Meeting by means of a virtual meeting platform known as Zoom. This is the same platform that was used for meetings beginning in April 2020 due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic.

During this unprecedented time the health and safety of our employees, our customers and the community is our number one priority. We would like to maintain business operation as close to normal as possible, with the ability to host virtual meetings this allows us to do just that.

1. Members of the public are invited to join each of the DELCORA Committee Meetings as well as the DELCORA Board of Directors Meeting.

2. For each meeting there is a different access link. You will find that below under the appropriate meeting you wish to participate in.

The following meetings listed below will each be held utilizing Zoom Technology:

Human Resources & Administration Committee Meeting – August 10, 2020, 3:30PM
Members of the public are invited to join the Human Resources & Admin. Committee Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85277766892?pwd=c2RDMEh3VWlJcGFWbU0vTUlVS1IvZz09

Meeting ID: 852 7776 6892
Password: 067970

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

Strategic Planning & Goals Committee Meeting – August 10, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the Human Resources & Admin. Committee Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85277766892?pwd=c2RDMEh3VWlJcGFWbU0vTUlVS1IvZz09

Meeting ID: 852 7776 6892
Password: 067970

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

Operations & Engineering Committee Meeting – August 11, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the Operations & Engineering Committee Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89441274602?pwd=ZWUzaUZXTUFUY3hDSXRQNjNRNVhIdz09

Meeting ID: 894 4127 4602
Password: 784296

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

Finance Committee Meeting – August 12, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the Finance Committee Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87038417484?pwd=b1FWdzZXbEo2SnhhVWQ0MHRWMVA4UT09

Meeting ID: 870 3841 7484
Password: 968224

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

DELCORA Board of Directors Meeting – August 18, 2020, 3:30PM

Members of the public are invited to join the DELCORA Board of Directors Meeting by accessing the meeting through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84280002147?pwd=OCtUSTVBSVRDdWtDN1BrMTVqOVBxdz09

Meeting ID: 842 8000 2147
Password: 027516

People can also join by telephone by calling one of the following phone numbers: +1 312 626 6799, +1 929 205 6099, +1 253 215 8782, +1 301 715 8592, +1 346 248 7799, +1 669 900 6833.

PUBLIC COMMENT/FORUM: Participants wishing to provide public comment will be able to do so by adhering to the following protocols:

When you join a Zoom meeting hosted by another user, you are considered an attendee. Beginning at 3:30 pm a public comment/forum will begin allowing anyone who wishes to speak publicly to be given 3 minutes. The public comment/forum time will only be at the beginning of each meeting. If there is no one from the public requesting to speak to the Board, the meeting will continue as usual.

There are 3 methods available to participate via Public Comment:

1. Zoom Chat/Phone – during the public meetings
2. Email public comment/question
3. Phone in public comment/question

If a public participant joins via the “zoom link” they can sign up by using the Zoom chat:

a) In your controls at the bottom window, click Chat. If you are on a mobile device, tap Participants, then Chat.
b) The chat window will open on the right side of your screen if you are not in full screen mode.
c) Please type your First and Last Name, Address and Topic of Discussion into the chat window to sign up for Public Comment and press Enter to send your message.
d) Public Comment will start promptly at 3:30 pm.
e) Time duration will be kept by the host and monitored to ensure the 3 minute time limit is adhered to.
f) Please be respectful of your time and others who may be awaiting their turn to speak as well.

If an individual chooses to join by phone and would like to participate in the public forum we ask for you to adhere to the following instructions:

a) When asked if there is anyone wishing to speak from the public, please at that time state your First and Last Name, Address and whether you have a question or comment.
b) The host will then call upon you again when it is your turn to speak.
c) If a question is asked a member of the Board or Staff will answer you question.
d) Again, public comment/forum will begin promptly at 3:30pm.

Public comments/questions may be submitted by email with the following information:
1) First & Last Name
2) Address
3) Comment/Questions

Emails can be sent immediately to: amadiol@delcora.org

If you do not have access to email you can call in your public comment to: 484-844-0482

Public meetings begin promptly at 3:30pm. All comments/questions sent in by Zoom chat/phone, email and phone will be read and addressed at the beginning of each meeting. Once all public comments/questions have been addressed the meeting will continue as usual.

Emailed or phoned/in comments deemed inappropriate will not be read into public record. Zoom chat/phone comments from an individual deemed inappropriate will force the host to remove that individual from the meeting and be removed from public record.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Will begin promptly at 3:30pm with the designated chair for each committee requesting those in attendance to engage in the Pledge of Allegiance. After, the meeting will commence as usual with the agenda for each given meeting.

DELCORA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Will begin promptly at 3:30pm with the Chairman of the Board requesting those in attendance to engage in the Pledge of Allegiance. After, the meeting will commence as usual with the final Board agenda based on Committee Meetings recommendations of business.

DELCORA Board of Directors is asking everyone to be patient as using remote technology is a new endeavor. The DELCORA Board encourages all residents to stay vigilant and follow the safety measures that have been provided by the Governor’s office, County Council and the State Health Departments.

Your Questions Answered

In the Delaware County Council meeting held on June 3, 2020, several council members gave false, misleading and no answers to the public comment questions asked about the DELCORA-Aqua merger. Below are the same questions with DELCORA’s answers to these questions.

1. How is the county’s plan different from DELCORA? You will be facing the same issues, correct?

The county does not have a plan other than to take over DELCORA and acquire all of its assets. Most importantly, in its scheme the Delco Council does not specify how it will pay for the $1.2 billion in capital and maintenance costs. With no plan to meet these costs, the Council’s plan will lead to skyrocketing rate increases of approximately 10% annually.

2. I live in the Darby Creek Service area. The Aqua deal will save us over 100 million dollars in costs over a ten-year period. What is the county’s plan to make sure that we still get these savings?

The Delaware County Council does not have a plan for how ratepayers will be protected from skyrocketing capital and maintenance costs. The savings that will be realized in the Darby Creek area are similar to the savings that other communities will experience. In fact we estimate a total savings of more than $275 million for just the Eastern Municipal customers through 2037.

3. Will the county council commit that all money from the sale will go to the ratepayers and not the general fund?

Delaware County Council cleverly dodged this question by stating that the money will go to taxpayers. However, taxpayers are not ratepayers, as many taxpayers are not serviced by DELCORA. The assets of DELCORA belong to DELCORA ratepayers not taxpayers, since those serviced by DELCORA, i.e. the ratepayers, paid to build and maintain DELCORA’s system. County Council never contributed one dime to DELCORA. Under the DELCORA plan, all proceeds of the sale will go back to ratepayers by keeping rates at a manageable 3% annual increase for several years.

4. Why won’t the county hold real public meetings before dissolving DELCORA? We have a right to know what the plan is going forward. Is transparency just a campaign slogan you forgot once elected?

Ironically, County Council claims transparency and open government, yet they made their decision with no public meetings to detail their plan. In addition, they proposed this hostile takeover in the midst of a pandemic using a Zoom call. Before making its decision last year, DELCORA held numerous public meetings, meetings with Council and meetings with ratepayers to get their input.

5. What happens to the millions of dollars DELCORA has already paid towards the long-term control plan? Will we be double billed? Will an escrow account be established? Do the rate payers have any guarantees that this money won’t simply go into the general fund for the county to use as it pleases? What experience does the county have in operating a waste water treatment plant and do they have all the necessary permits to do so?

The Delaware County Council avoided answering this question by stating that the money will go to taxpayers and made no distinction between taxpayers and ratepayers. However, the assets of DELCORA belong to DELCORA ratepayers not taxpayers generally, since County Council never contributed one dime to DELCORA. Under the DELCORA plan, all proceeds of the sale will go back to ratepayers by keeping rates at a manageable 3% annual increase for several years and all funds previously contributed to the long term control plan will be used for that purpose. Council has refused to make the same commitment, and instead has only said that the money will go to the taxpayers. Also, the Council has no experience operating a complex municipal wastewater authority.

6. Teamsters Union Local #115 represents the front-line employees who have been and remain dedicated to serving the community which fundamentally relies on the life-sustaining services from DELCORA. It is our sincerest expectation that upon passage of the ordinance to dissolve DELCORA and return administration of this valuable community asset to the county, the council will provide recognition to Teamsters Local #115 as the sole and exclusive representation for the hard-working and loyal DELCORA employees. Likewise, it is our sincerest expectation that the council will provide assurance that the employees who have dedicated many years and decades to maintain and improving this asset will not be cast aside and the council will provide assurance for jobs and livelihoods which are secured through a collective bargaining agreement in effect through January 9 2022 will remain in place and in-tact upon the county undertaking direct administration of DELCORA.

One of DELCORA’s guiding principles in seeking a partner was to preserve all DELCORA jobs. Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater specifically agreed to this stipulation. DELCORA has a long and positive relationship with the Teamsters and looks forward to continuing that relationship long into the future.

7. It is my understanding that the county has never put any money into DELCORA’s system. Given this, why do you think the county is now entitled to that money?

The Council is not entitled to DELCORA’s assets, since they never contributed anything to DELCORA. The ratepayers have paid to build and maintain the DELCORA system. Since they have never stated otherwise, the only reason that Council is interested in DELCORA must be to raid its assets and put them into the general fund.

8. Why is the Aqua Deal bad for ratepayers?

The DELCORA plan is the best plan for ratepayers because it allows mandated government capital improvements to be made while keeping rates at a reasonable 3% annual increase, with the trust absorbing any additional annual costs until it is exhausted. In addition, ratepayers get an experienced operator who is very familiar with the county. The County option would be to take all the funds from DELCORA for the County’s use, and then charge the ratepayers 10% or more increases annually to comply with the government mandated capital improvements.

9. An article of the Daily Times said that if the county dissolves DELCORA, the county is going to be responsible for “all of DELCORA’s contracts, assets, and liabilities.” If Aqua can buy DELCORA and Aqua pays off all that debt, how is the county going to afford to pay the debt of DELCORA?

This is a key question and one where the Council has been silent. They have not specified how they will pay for the incoming tidal wave of $1.2 billion in capital and maintenance costs to complete the Chester Long-term Control Plan and leave the City of Philadelphia contract.

10. I am concerned about DELCORA employees and have 2 questions. What happens to the union contracts of the employees who work at DELCORA if the county takes them over? Is the county guaranteeing to honor all of the jobs and union contracts? Second, what happens to the pensions of DELCORA employees if the county takes over DELCORA? Will the county honor all of the pensions of the employees and guarantee them for all of the current employees?

One of DELCORA’s guiding principles in seeking a partner was to preserve all of DELCORA ‘s jobs. Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater agreed to this requirement. DELCORA has a long and positive relationship with the Teamsters and looks forward to continuing that relationship long into the future.

11. What experience does county council have that would qualify it to run a professional waste water operation, especially if you’re getting rid of the leadership of DELCORA? Aqua has professional engineers and operation managers, etc. What makes the county think it can do a better job than Aqua?

Delco Council has no experience in operating a complex wastewater authority. Without this experience there is a risk of contamination to local rivers, streams and the general water supply.

12. DELCORA and Aqua were going to use the trust to offset the rate increases. Aqua is going to need to do all of the infrastructure work. If the lawsuit to stop DELCORA from forming the trust is successful, what is the county going to do with the $200 million dollars or more that would have been put into the trust?

The County Council did not answer this question, other than to cleverly say that the money would go to taxpayers, but the money belongs to ratepayers not taxpayers. Ratepayers are the ones who built up DELCORA’s assets. Without the trust, ratepayers will be forced to shoulder the burden of $1.2 billion in the form of skyrocketing rate increase of 10% per year for the foreseeable future. The DELCORA plan uses the trust to keep rates at reasonable 3% annual increases.

13. If the trust is made up of money from DELCORA rate payers, why does the county feel it is entitled to that money? What will you use the trust money for? If you use it to benefit the county, you’re effectively stealing from DELCORA rate payers to benefit all of the residents of the county. That money should be used to benefit DELCORA. How will you explain to the rate payers that they’re taking that money to use for other things?

Once again, the Council did not answer this question. Council is seeking to take DELCORA’s assets and move them into the general fund while dramatically increasing rates for ratepayers.

14. What is the county’s specific problem with the trust? I know the county says the money goes to Aqua, but it’s specifically going to Aqua to pay what the rates would be if the trust was not available. It’s like your insurance company paying your collision repair shop to fix your bumper. The customer still benefits from the money because it’s going directly to pay the difference between the current plan and what the rate would be if they were without the trust. Why does the county have a problem with that? What plan does the county have to ensure that the rates don’t skyrocket?

The Council has not announced a plan. In the absence of a stated plan, ratepayers are left to believe that all the trust money will go into the general fund.

15. How are customers supposed to know what their real rates are when their bills are artificially discounted by the trust?

Aqua’s proposal to the Public Utility Commission is to show the full rate on bills to DELCORA customers with a payment from the DELCORA Trust as a line item on the bill. Customers will therefore be able to see the full rate and the payment from the Trust. This proposal is subject to review and approval by the PUC.