Mohawk Valley Water Authority – December 18, 2006

Chairman Gaston called the meeting to order at 5:03 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Roll Call:  Present: Bruce Brodsky, Rolf Buchner, Vincent Coyne, Elis DeLia, George Gaston,  Millicent Rader-Harris, A. Eugene Snyder, Bette Szesny and Frank Trevisani.  Absent: Nate Price.  Also present: Patrick Becher, Edward Earl, Steve Gassner, James Korfonta, Connie Schreppel, and Donald Weimer.  Joseph Hobika, Jr. arrived at 5:12PM after the award presentation to the Honorable Destito.

Chairman Gaston stated the Board would like to send their condolences to the Price family and the family of Mr. Price’s daughter-in-law who was killed in a car accident in the State of Washington last week.

Chairman Gaston stated that December 19 is the 10^th anniversary of the Upper Mohawk Valley Regional Water Authority.  The Chairman thanked the Board members for volunteering their time and making this venture work.

Award Presentation to the Honorable RoAnn M. Destito

Chairman Gaston presented the Honorable RoAnn M. Destito with a plaque on behalf of the MVWA Board for the successful passage of legislation in the Assembly.

Approval of the November 20, 2006 Minutes:

Motion made by Mr. Brodsky.  Seconded by Mr. Buchner.   

Vote:   (10) Ayes  (0) Nays  (1) Absent   

Motion carried.

Committee Reports:

Capital Projects:  Mr. DeLia stated that the committee did not meet due to lack of agenda items.

Budget and Finance:  Mr. Brodsky stated that the committee would meet within the next few weeks to go over several options and proposals for the rate structure.  All Board members are welcome to attend that meeting.  The committee will then bring the results to the Board to finalize.  Joe Hobika, Jr. would like to renew his request regarding delinquent balances to reflect addresses.  Mr. Korfonta stated that the MVWA should be able to fund the reserves as estimated. 

Personnel Committee:  Mr. Coyne stated that the committee did not meet this month.

Operations:  Mr. Price was absent, therefore no report given.

Executive Director’s Report:  Mr. Becher reported on the following:

• Status of litigation – first round of depositions will occur on January 8, 2007. The purpose is to sit down and get testimony from the Canal Corporation and Erie Boulevard Hydropower.  They will attempt to mediate by January 31. 
• A request was made to Mr. Gassner from the Hope VI Project asking the MVWA to waive their meter fees.  They have moved people into new homes and have started using water for free because meters were not installed.  Mr. Gassner has worked closely with Hope VI and has collected approximately $2,000 in fees.  Mr. Hobika, Jr. stated that this is Housing Visions not Hope VI and apologized for the confusion.  He also stated that the Board needs something in writing or have someone come in and make the request to waive that fee since Mr. Becher stated it was not an administrative function but a Board function.  Mr. Brodsky asked if an inventory of information could be given to new board members such as analysis, reports, budgets and any other information that has been prepared within the last year along with the regular board packet.  

Old Business:

Approval of the October 16, 2006 Minutes:

Motion made by Ms. Rader-Harris.  Seconded by Mr. Brodsky.   

Vote:   (10) Ayes  (0) Nays  (1) Absent    Motion carried.

Discussion:  Award of Contract for New Telephone System

Motion made by Mr. Hobika, Jr. to award the telephone contract.  Seconded by Mr. Brodksy.    

Since 1996 the MVWA has been leasing a telephone system that currently does not meet their needs.  The new phone system will monitor phone calls, direct calls off-site, call accounting system and connect with the Kemble Street and Water Treatment Plant sites.  Six proposals were received and only two qualified, one was from Northland Communications, Utica, NY and one from Matrix in Syracuse, NY.  Northland Communications was the low quote with a three-year lease including two free years of maintenance.      

Vote:   (10) Ayes  (0) Nays  (1) Absent     

Contract was awarded.

New Business:

Ms. Rader-Harris wanted to commend Connie Schreppel and Lis DeGeronimo for the course on water shed protection they put forward a couple of years ago and since most of the members were not part of that could they have the course again.  

Mr. Trevisani handed out an article from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle regarding the Monroe County Water Authority’s proposed east side water plant.

Mr. Brodsky had a request of the Board.  He would like the staff to prepare a brief analysis of an environmental overview, which looks at hiring, training, expanding, the budget, etc.  This analysis would help the Board in planning for the future.  Mr. Brodsky moved that the Board request the staff to do an environmental overview as it relates to the present and future impact on the MVWA.  Bette Szesny seconded.

Joe Hobika, Jr. stated that the Executive Director and Comptroller’s report should already have this information in it.   

Vote:   (9) Ayes  (1) Nays  (Mr. Hobika, Jr.)    (1) Absent

Mr. Hobika, Jr. asked to clarify his vote and started explaining it when Mr. Buchner asked Chairman Gaston if a vote had been taken.  Chairman Gaston responded yes and that ended the discussion.

Bette Szesny stated that at the October Board meeting the Board asked Mr. Becher to ask the MVWA’s public relations firm if it should put a rebuttal regarding the legislation on the website.  The legislation that was passed in the Assembly was debated on the floor of the Assembly and comments were made on the record by Mr. Townsend and Mr. Butler, which contained erroneous information.  We will provide a rebuttal and confirm with our public relations firm.

Mr. Snyder asked if the Town of Kirkland was requesting a meeting and if so, would like to be involved.  

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2007 at 5:00 PM.

Chairman Gaston wished the Board and the MVWA staff a very happy holiday.

Motion to adjourn made by: Mr. Brodsky.  Seconded by:  Mr. DeLia.

Motion Carried. 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:13PM.

Respectfully submitted,

 __________________________ 

Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary 

Mohawk Valley Water Authority