Special Board Meeting Mohawk Valley Water Authority – February 6, 2006

Chairman Gaston called the meeting to order at 5:05 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Roll Call:  Present: Bruce Brodsky, Rolf Buchner, Vincent Coyne, Elis DeLia, George Gaston, Joseph Hobika, Jr., Nathaniel Price and Ms. Rader-Harris.  Absent: Joseph Malecki, Bernard Martin, Sr. and Frank Trevisani.  Also present: Patrick Becher, Mario Bequer, Edward Earl, Steve Gassner, James Korfonta, James Mack, Lou Santacroce.

 

Collection and Re-Levy Process:    Mr. Korfonta handed out written collection procedures to the Board members.  On a weekly basis a delinquent account list is produced of all water accounts 60 days and $200 overdue.  The list is reviewed by the customer service manager, billing staff and Comptroller and accounts are excluded from the list for some of the following reasons: collection is imminent, collection is likely following procedures performed internally, pending adjustments or other credits, the account, landlord or responsible person has been through collections in the past and City of Utica owned properties or the customer has filed for bankruptcy.  Following this review, the list is forwarded to an independent collection agency.  Internal processes also include commencing water shut-off procedures for habitually delinquent accounts or accounts that were not collected by the collection agency.  These shut-off procedures were specified in the documents handed out. 

 

Delinquent Water Bills Levied on Local Taxes:    Mr. Korfonta gave an overview of how the MVWA handles the levy of delinquent water bills on local taxes.  Mr. Becher introduced Mike Cerminaro, Controller for the City of Utica.  Mr. Cerminaro stated that the MVWA is owed a large sum of money on back water bills collected by the City of Utica but not remitted to the MVWA.  There are several options for paying this such as, the City offering services in lieu of monies owed.  More discussions need to take place between the MVWA and the City before any decisions are reached.  Mr. Cerminaro stated that the City of Utica is in a transition period and that it will keep tracking the backwater bills manually until such time that their new system is put in place.  Mr. Becher stated that two things need to happen 1) The MVWA work with the City of Utica to make sure the dollar amount owed the MVWA is correct and 2) come up with a written agreement to track these payments in the future.  The Board thanked Mr. Cerminaro for coming.

 

Waiver Resolutions for Back Water Bills:  There were several questions asked by Board members regarding clarification of this process, which Ted Earl answered.  Mr. Coyne suggested that these resolutions be voted on at the next Board Meeting by the full Board.

 

Discussion of $24 Million Unfunded Mandate:  Mr. Brodsky gave an overview using percentages and stated that there are two ways to pay for this 1) Bond or 2) increase rates.  The MVWA customers could be looking at increases over the next 4 years of approximately 16.3% in 06/07, 12.7% in 07/08, 11.3% in 08/09 and 8.2% in 09/10, which is a 4-year total of 48.2%.  These are decisions the Board needs to make.  Mr. Brodsky wants to start publicly talking about the mandates to inform the public before the Rate Hearing.   

 

Mr. Coyne moved to adjourn the meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Price.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

__________________________ 

Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary 

Mohawk Valley Water Authority