Mohawk Valley Water Authority – June 20, 2011
Chairman DeLia called the meeting to order at 5:01 PM and opened with the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Roll Call:
Present: Rocco Arcuri, Bruce Brodsky,
Vincent Coyne, Elis DeLia, Mark Ford, Mitch Ford, George Gaston, Steven Smith,
Bette Szesny, Michael Wicks and Scott Williams.
Absent: Luke Lewis.
Also Present: Edward Earl, Scott Gorgas, James Korfonta, Dick Goodney, Mike Ryan
and Connie Schreppel.
Chairman DeLia presided and Suzanne Harmon took the minutes.
Approval of the May 16, 2011 Minutes:
Motion made by Dr. Wicks to approve the minutes.
Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Vote: (11) Ayes
(0) Nays (0) Abstain
(1) Absent Motion
Carried.
Chairman DeLia made a motion to go into Executive Session at 5:04 PM to discuss
pending labor negotiations with the MVWA attorney, John Corcoran from Hancock &
Estabrook.
Moved by: Mr. Coyne. Seconded by:
Mr. Arcuri. Motion Carried.
Motion made by Mr. Gaston to come out of Executive Session at 5:45 PM.
Seconded by: Ms. Szesny.
Motion Carried.
A resolution was passed in Executive Session “Ratifying and Funding Collective
Bargaining Agreement”.
Vote: (10) Ayes
(1) Nays – Mitch Ford
(0) Abstain (1) Absent
Motion Carried.
Approval of Quarterly Investment Statement – 4th Quarter ending March
31, 2011
Mr. Korfonta stated that this is an investment statement of the MVWA trust
funds. The Public Authorities Law
requires that the MVWA provide the Board with statements every quarter for
approval.
Moved by Mr. Brodsky to approve the statement.
Seconded by Mr. Arcuri.
Vote: (11) Ayes
(0) Nays (0) Abstain
(1) Absent
Motion Carried.
Resolution: Award of Contract for Walker Pump Station Upgrades
Mr. Goodney stated that the general construction scope for this contract
involves removal of the original pumps, motors, piping, valves and electrical
and control systems and complete replacement with new components.
Bids were received from five general contractors of which Henderson
Brothers Contracting, Inc., Central Square, NY in the amount of $107,415 was the
lowest bid. Henderson will complete
the work under this contract by November 19, 2011.
Sum will be paid as a capital improvement out of the Board’s Capital
Improvement Fund.
Moved by Mr. Arcuri to approve.
Seconded by Mr. Brodsky.
Vote: (11) Ayes
(0) Nays (0) Abstain
(1) Absent
Motion Carried.
Resolution: Award of Contract for Installation of two 24” Horizontally
Directionally Drilled Hi-Density Polyethylene Water Mains
Mr. Goodney stated that the general construction scope for this contract
involves site preparation and restoration and installation of HDPE water main by
specialized Horizontal Directional Drilling methods.
Bids were received from two general contractors of which Dakksco Pipeline
Corp, Leicester, NY in the amount of $442,944 was the lowest bid.
Dakksco will complete the work under this contract within 120 consecutive
working days after execution of the contract.
Moved by Mr. Arcuri to approve. Seconded
by Mr.Brodsky.
Vote: (11) Ayes
(0) Nays (0) Abstain
(1) Absent
Motion Carried.
Approval: Sale of Kemble Street and Symphony Place Properties
Advertisements for offers to purchase the property located at 1605 Kemble Street
in the City of Utica were placed in the OD on May 18 and 19, 2011.
The Board received two written offers, the highest from Puthina Ung of 11
Violet Street, Lynn, MA in the amount of $3,135.
The proceeds shall be transferred to the Finance Authority and deposited
at the Authority’s discretion in the Bond Redemption Fund or the Repair and
Improvement Fund.
Moved by Mr. Williams to approve.
Seconded by Mr. Ford.
Vote: (11) Ayes
(0) Nays (0) Abstain
(1) Absent
Motion Carried.
Advertisements for offers to purchase the property at Symphony Place in the Town
of Whitestown were placed in the OD on May 18 and 19, 2011.
The Board received two written offers, the highest from Raymond M. Majka
of 4 Symphony Place, Whitesboro, NY in the amount of $5,150.
Pay one-half of the net proceeds of sale after expenses to the City of
Utica in accordance with the Common Council’s Resolution No. One of March 2,
2011 and the remaining one-half of the net proceeds of the sale be transferred
to the Finance Authority and deposited at the Authority’s discretion in the Bond
Redemption Fund or the Repair and Improvement Fund as required by Section 6.3
(4) of the Financing Agreement between MVWA, the City and the Finance Authority
dated as of October 30, 1996.
Moved by Dr. Wicks to approve.
Seconded by Mr. Brodsky.
Vote: (11) Ayes
(0) Nays (0) Abstain
(1) Absent
Motion Carried.
Committee Reports:
Capital Projects:
Mr. Goodney presented two resolutions
regarding approval of the sale of two properties that were discussed at the
Capital Projects committee meeting and just approved.
Mr. Goodney had nothing further to add.
Budget and Finance:
Mr. Korfonta introduced Scott Gorgas
who is the new Assistant Deputy Controller.
Scott comes from the University of Albany and currently teaches at SUNY
IT.
The audit is complete and the MVWA has a deadline date of June 30 to file the
audit, which is complying with the Authority Budget Office.
The monthly report shows a reduction in water consumption.
Some of the larger MVWA customers were contacted and stated that their
reduction is down due to the economy and a direct result of conservation.
Mr. Becher stated that if this continues and there is a reduction in
revenues they will look at ways to cut back and reduce expenses within the next
30 days.
Personnel:
Dr. Wicks stated that the committee did meet this month but he had to leave the
meeting early because he was sick.
Mr. Becher stated that the committee discussed the teamster contracts and the
process of reorganizing the engineering department by splitting it into
functions. There are currently two
vacant positions. The reorganization is
on hold until the Teamster negotiations are completed.
Operations:
The committee did not meet this month.
Governance:
The committee did not meet this month.
Mr. Coyne stated that he received 7 out of 11 responses on the Evaluation
of the Board. Some Board members
felt they were not as well informed as they should be.
Mr. Coyne feels that it is a very open board and any member should feel
free to speak up at the board meetings and ask questions.
Mr. Becher stated that he can be contacted at any time with questions.
Chairman DeLia urged members to participate in the committee meetings and
stated that he is always available.
Audit Committee:
The committee did not meet this month.
Executive Director’s Report:
·
Mr. Becher asked the Secretary to contact Mr. Ford and set-up an Operations
Committee meeting to review the Strategic Plan.
The chair directed the committee to meet first and then bring it to the
full Board.
·
The Court of Appeals rejected Erie Hydro Power’s appeal and threw them out of
the case. Erie Hydro Power is now
out of the process. The MVWA
attorney’s at Hancock & Estabrook have a date set for June 28 to meet with Judge
Hester to discuss the scope of the trial with the Canal Corporation and
hopefully set a date for the trial.
·
The Court of Claims action where MVWA has made a motion to intervene, the
argument is set for mid October.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:17 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary
Mohawk Valley Water Authority
