Chairman Gaston called the
meeting to order at 5:05 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call:
Present: Bruce Brodsky,
Chairman Gaston presided and
Suzanne Harmon took the minutes.
Approval of the June 18,
2007 Minutes:
Motion made by: Mr. Trevisani.
Seconded by Mr. Brodsky.
Ms. Rader-Harris asked to have the minutes amended to include her comments at
the last Board meeting which were not included under Old Business.
After Malcolm Pirnie add “As relates to the 1917 Contract with the Canal
Corporation”.
Motion made to amend the
minutes by Ms. Rader-Harris.
Seconded by: Mr. Hobika, Jr.
Vote:
(9) Ayes (0) Nays
(1) Abstain (Mr. Hobika,
Jr.) (2) Absent
Motion Carried.
The motion made by Mr.
Trevisani to adopt the minutes was never voted on.
Resolution:
IDSE and GIS/Hydraulic Model Professional Services Contracts, Contract
Change Orders
Under the Board’s current
Capital Improvement Plan a Regional System IDSE is underway by CH2MHill to
comply with recent EPA water quality regulations and Phase 2 of the
GIS/Hydraulic Modeling was previously undertaken by CDM of a small portion (10%)
of the Regional System. Staff is
recommending that the entire hydraulic modeling portion of the work be conducted
by one firm, CH2MHill, to avoid potential conversion issues, improve model
consistency in terms of calibration and quality with regard to water quality
modeling. The Board hereby
authorizes to reduce the CDM contract by change order from $76,530 to $58,263
and increase CH2MHill’s contract by change order from $398,350 to $416,617 with
no resulting net impact on the Board’s Capital Improvement Fund.
Motion made by Mr. Coyne.
Seconded by Ms. Rader-Harris.
Vote:
(10) Ayes (0) Nays
(2) Absent
Motion carried.
Resolution:
Award of In-Line Hydro Generation Study-Professional Services Contract to
Wendel-Duchscherer and NYSERDA Grant Authorization
The MVWA currently generates
electricity at two locations on the transmission mains and there is potential
for generation at two additional locations where excess pressure is available.
NYSERDA supports projects of this type through grants that will pay for
one-half of feasibility study costs and has awarded a grant for one half of the
study cost of $9,500 to MVWA in the amount of $4,750.
The total MVWA cost is $6,250, one-half the study cost $4,750, plus
$1,500 for the preparation and administration of the grant application.
Wendel is an approved NYSERDA consultant and has performed initial
investigation and site visits at no cost to MVWA.
The Board awards said professional services to Wendel-Duchscherer in the
amount of $6,250 and authorizes the sum is paid as a capital improvement out of
the Capital Improvement Fund.
Motion made by Ms.
Rader-Harris. Seconded by Mr.
Brodsky.
Vote:
(10) Ayes (0) Nays
(2) Absent
Motion carried.
Resolution:
Award of Construction Engineering Submittals Review Professional Services
Assistance for the
Construction of a new 10 mg
water storage tank at Deerfield Reservoir and a new 2.0 mg Clearwell at the
Water Treatment Plant are underway to comply with EPA water quality regulations.
Each material and equipment component of the project is required to be
submitted by the contractor for approval prior to ordering and installation on
the project and typically MVWA staff performs these reviews.
Engineering staff is finding it difficult to keep up with the submittal
due to the large number of active projects.
The staff is requesting an approval of up to 120 person-hours of
technical assistance from each consultant at the hourly rates for project
engineering in their respective original professional services proposals to
assist with contractor submittal reviews.
The Board authorizes the Executive Director to award not to exceed
contract change orders to Barton & Loguidice Consulting Engineers, in the amount
of $9,000 ($75/hr average) and to O’Brien & Gere Engineers in the amount of
$10,320 ($86/hr average). The sums
will be paid as a capital improvement out of the Board’s capital improvement
fund.
Motion made by Ms.
Rader-Harris. Seconded by Mr.
Brodsky.
Vote:
(10) Ayes (0) Nays
(2) Absent
Motion carried.
Budget Calendar for
2008-2009 Year
Mr. Brodsky stated that the
Finance Committee reviewed the Fiscal 2008-09 Budget Calendar, which begins on
July 13, 2007 and concluding the process on January 21, 2008.
Motion made by Mr. Brodsky.
Seconded by Mr. Hobika, Jr.
Vote:
(10) Ayes (0) Nays
(2) Absent
Motion carried.
Committee Reports:
Capital Projects:
No report given. Mr. Coyne
requested a SCADA presentation be given to the Board.
Budget and Finance:
Mr. Brodsky stated that the MVWA’s cash position has improved.
Quarterly and monthly billed water sales are above the monthly budget.
The new Public Authorities Accountability Act requires that the Board
review and/or update and approve significant policies created by the Board on an
annual basis. Mr. Brodsky would
like to present these policies for review and/or update and approval.
Proposed changes and/or recommendations will also be presented at
upcoming Board meetings. These
policies are: 1) Procedures for Employee Travel, 2) Procurement Policies and
Procedures and 3) The Investment Policy.
Two additional items are the MVWA Audit Committee Charter and the
Whistleblower Policy. These will be on
future agendas and once approved will be put in binders and on CD.
When the MVWA receives a
request for consideration from the Board, Mr. Snyder would like it brought to
the Board for review. Mr. Coyne feels
that the Chairman of the Board should be the one to decide if it should come
before the Board. Mr. Hobika feels
that we are an authority and the board should be apprised of it.
Mr. Coyne feels there should be a policy on this.
Chairman Gaston stated that the Board will take a look at the policy to
see if any changes will be necessary.
Mr. Korfonta stated that the
Audit is complete and the Authority is in compliance with the State.
Copies for the Board will be
at next months meeting.
Personnel
Committee:
Mr. Coyne stated that the committee did not meet this month.
Operations:
Mr. Price stated that the committee did not meet this month.
Executive Director’s Report:
Old Business:
Ms. Rader-Harris stated that
she filed a FOIL request with the MVWA requesting a list of the lead service
lines in the water system. She also
passed around a copy of the request and stated that she received no response.
Ms. Rader-Harris read from
the Public Authorities Law 1226-f # 23 page 63.
“To replace residential water service pipes containing lead and running
from the curb box at a homeowner’s property to the water meter in the residence
and to accept an easement from the homeowner therefore.”
Mr. Hobika, Jr. stated that 1)If you are going to read a statute into the
minutes you should provide a copy of it to all the Board members and 2) What do
you want to do with it?
Ms. Rader-Harris stated that
she just wanted it put in the minutes.
Mr. Becher stated that there
is no lead problem in the MVWA’s water system.
New Business:
Mr. Trevisani handed out an
article regarding the City of
The next Board Meeting is
scheduled for August 20, 2007 at 5:00 PM.
Mr.
Brodsky moved to adjourn the meeting.
Seconded by Mr. Coyne. The
meeting was adjourned at 6:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary