MUA Commissioner Burns Reappointed for Five Years

SWAINTON – The big announcement at the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority’s (CMCMUA) meeting Feb. 15 was that the Board of Chosen Freeholders reappointed William G. Burns, Jr. for a five-year term. 
Burns thanked the freeholders and said, “I enjoy the job and look forward to another five years.”
Josh Palombo, assistant wastewater program manager, reported the wastewater team was updating process and instrumentation diagrams.
These are engineering drawings that tie together process equipment and instrumentation associated with pumps, pressure sensors, etc.
Original drawings were made at the time of construction of the plants. However, over the years, some outdated equipment has been eliminated while newer equipment was installed when technology changed. The updated drawings, Palombo said, are crucial in developing a scope of work.
“It’s a comprehensive job that we’ve decided to do in-house, he added. “It’s a really good way to train employees on the equipment we have while also saving some money on consulting.”
John Conturo, the solid waste program manager, reported the overall tonnage for January 2017 is less than this time last year. “Most of the waste streams are a little lower than we anticipated, Conturo said.
“The budgeted tonnage amounts that we have are based on three-year averages so we do expect these tonnages to come back up, but it’s a little bit of a slow start.
“We’re just slightly below where we were this time last year.” What that means, moneywise, is that they are a little over budget and slightly ahead of 2016.
“Over budget and slightly ahead is always good,” added Burns.
Resolutions passed to authorize the purchase of supplies, services, and equipment, as well as award contracts to furnish and deliver cutter replacement part kits and grinder cutter exchange units for the wastewater management program.
A resolution authorizing the sale of renewable energy certificates was also passed for the solid waste management program.
A $2,600 solid waste operations voucher was paid to Elmer Door Company for fixing a double steel door at the transfer station that has emergency push bars, Conturo explained.
When it came time to discuss wastewater operations vouchers, Burns wanted to know, “What are we buying building materials for composting?”
“The locker room in the administration building hadn’t had the ceiling tiles replaced since origination. So they did a little updating,” Palombo answered.
To contact Bryon Cahill, email bcahill@cmcherald.com.