Mejias said instead of having PMUA vehicles drive out to a fuel station, trucks could be filled at night on-site at great savings, perhaps as much as $8,000 to $10,000 a month. Besides the cost of fuel, he said, there was a labor cost in having drivers wait for trucks to be filled, which he calculated to be $10.08 for 30 minutes.
Mejias said he was also looking into whether the authority was exempt from taxes on fuel. If so, that could mean saving another 65 cents to $1 per gallon. The authority could also go back two years to recoup savings, he said.
When Mejias said his analysis was done because trucks "just conked out" on the road, PMUA Chairman Charles Tyndale asked, "You wouldn't have known otherwise?" and Mejias said no, if the trucks hadn't kept shutting down.
Tyndale asked whether the vendor was notified about the quality of the fuel. Commissioner Carol Brokaw, who serves on the finance committee, said there were two vendors. Purchasing Agent Dollie Hamlin said the authority discovered the other one was overcharging the PMUA. That vendor is no longer being used and owes the PMUA $7,000, Hamlin said.
Among other items, the authority hired a firm to study whether the sewer system has the capacity to handle the proposed 212 new residential units on South Avenue. If the capacity is not there, the developer can't get a permit to hook up to the PMUA system. The study will cost $12,000, which will be paid out of the developer's escrow account.
In public comment, former Chief Financial Officer Duane Young urged the board to keep up the recent record of rate decreases, to which Brokaw replied, "We'll do the best we can."
The board also honored former Commissioners Harold Mitchell and Charles Eke for their service. Mitchell served from 2008 to 2015 and was chairman for four years. He was not present Tuesday. Eke received a commemorative desk clock for his two years of service, and both will receive framed resolutions from the PMUA.
The PMUA's annual Environmental Fair will take place on Sept. 5 and officials said donations are still coming in. Mejias said the authority may be "netting out the cost" this year.
--Bernice
How much Purchasing could the PMUA be doing. THis looks like a position that could be combined with the City to save taxpayer monies.
ReplyDeleteWhat other positions/services could be centralized to reduce cost with both the City and PMUA?
I agree. Someone told me that they have 4 employees in the PMUA Purchasing department which is ridiculous for an organization that size. How many employees in inspections and other I necessary diplications. That is why our rate is so high. Give your buddy a job is the biggest problem
Delete"...fuel contaminated with algae, water and sediment..."
ReplyDeleteThis seems to be an issue that should be taken up by more than management and the PMUA Board. May I suggest contacting NJDEP, Consumer Protection, County Prosecutor, and a good lawyer to recover damages.
On sewer capacity issue, the number of residents must be known in order to make accurate calculations. The flow calculations are per person not per unit.
ReplyDeleteOn the contamination issue, complaint should be filed with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.