The search to find a new director for the Bradford Sanitary Authority is underway.
Executive Director Rick Brocius died unexpectedly on April 29.
After an executive session Tuesday on personnel matters, Chairman Bob Douglas told The Era, “After discussion a committee was appointed to start the search for Rick’s replacement.”
Serving on the committee will be the following authority board members: Vice Chairman Bob Esch, Tim Roff and Treasurer Norm Strotman, he said.
At the public board meeting held prior to the executive session, Douglas held a moment of silence to honor Brocius for his “years of service, loyalty and devotion” to the authority. He expressed his sympathy for Brocius’ family.
In other news, Douglas announced that the authority brought back their full plant and field staff on May 11, which was the Monday after McKean County was moved into the yellow phase of the COVID-19 crisis. Safety precautions are in place for the office and wastewater treatment plant.
The authority started a COVID-19 platooning arrangement in March for two plant staff members per day and one field staff member per day.
Douglas said that prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, the field crew was cleaning and inspecting sewer and storm lines before the Bradford City Water Authority began installation of its new water main line. They also inspected the condition of storm catch basins.
During the shutdown, work focused on plugged laterals and a sewer line blockage on Edwards Street.
A crew recently did sewer work on Pine Street, and replacement of three manholes and sliplining 400 feet of sewer on Pine Street and Boylston Street is a priority project for the future. A catch basin will be replaced on Boylston Street, too.
The authority will collaborate with the Office of Economic and Community Development to plan the replacement project, as well as to plan the repair of catch basins on Congress Street.
Another project on the list is fixing a drainage issue in the area of East Main Street and Hawthorne Road.
Engineer Jack Rae updated the board on the Phase 3 renovation project at the wastewater treatment plant. He described some of the ongoing work.
Rae said the final completion date had been extended to June 30, but noted some punch list items might go beyond that date.
Regarding a cost of service study the authority recently had done, Rae said they have a draft that the finance committee will review.
Douglas and Strotman also talked about the transfer of authority employees from being considered Bradford City employees to being directly authority employees.
Douglas said the authority’s actuary and special pension counsel have made a detailed plan for the transfer, which has a goal of July 1. Strotman said they are talking to Northwest Retirement Services about the move.
Authority staff are assisting the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College with a project: development of a course in wastewater treatment. BSA staff are reviewing course content for the college.
The next meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. June 16.
