Mohawk Valley Water Authority – March 18, 2008
Chairman Gaston called the meeting to order at 5:00 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 February 19, 2008 Minutes:
Motion made by Ms. Rader-Harris.
Seconded by: Mr. Ryan
Vote:
(7) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(5) Absent
Motion carried.
Award of Professional
Banking Services
Mr.
Korfonta stated that an RFP went out for banking services and three banks and
one payment service sent in proposals.
The Finance Committee recommends HSBC Bank for MVWA’s professional
banking services.
Motion made by Mr. Brodsky
Seconded by: Mr. Snyder
Vote:
(8) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(4) Absent
Motion carried.
Mr.
Becher explained that the next three resolutions are standard resolutions
approved at this time each year.
They pertain to the MVWA waiving back water charges on properties that are sold
by municipalities for tax foreclosures and then remarketed to new owners and put
back onto the tax rolls. The three
resolutions were approved as follows:
Resolution: Water Charges on
County and City Owned One to Four Family Residential Structures
Motion made by Mr. Price
Seconded by: Ms. Rader-Harris
Vote:
(8) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(4) Absent
Motion carried.
Resolution: Water Charges on
County and City Owned Commercial Properties
Motion made by Ms. Rader-Harris
Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Vote:
(8) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(4) Absent
Motion carried.
Resolution: Water Charges on
County and City Owned Vacant Lots
Motion made by Ms. Rader-Harris
Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Vote:
(8) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(4) Absent
Motion carried.
Mr.
Brodsky asked Mr. Becher to provide a number in dollars for 2006 and 2007
regarding waived water charges and report back to the Board.
He was also requested to communicate in writing to the municipalities and
tax assessors regarding the approval of the above resolutions and send copies
for their records.
Resolution: Establishing the
MVWA as Lead Agency Pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act
Relative to the Marcy Reservoir Storage Tank Project
The
MVWA proposes to undertake construction of a new tank that will provide 3MG of
water storage located at
Motion made by Mr. Brodsky
Seconded by: Mr. Price
Vote:
(8) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(4) Absent
Motion carried.
Resolution: Issuing Negative
Declaration Pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act Relative to
the Marcy Reservoir Storage Tank Project
The
Authority now desires to make its “Determination of Significance” with respect
to the Project in accordance with 6 NYCRR 617.7 and to give notice of said
determination in accordance with 6 NYCRR 617.12.
Motion made by Mr. Brodsky
Seconded by: Mr. Ryan
Vote:
(8) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(4) Absent
Motion carried.
Water Treatment Plant:
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) DBP Control Full Scale Pilot Study – Malcolm
Pirnie, Inc. Professional Services Award
The
Water Quality Department and MVWA’s Water Quality Consultants, Malcolm Pirnie
Inc. (MPI), have identified an emerging technology that utilizes GAC as a filter
media in existing filter beds to control DBP formation.
A small scale GAC Pilot Study was authorized by the Board in Spring 2007
and conducted at the WTP throughout Summer and Fall 2007.
The results of the small scale GAC Pilot Study confirmed effective
removal rates of the dissolved organic carbon precursors to DBP.
The Water Quality staff and MPI recommend a full scale Pilot Study be
conducted to confirm efficiency removals on a full scale basis in the actual
filters at the WTP.
A
professional services contract in the amount of $19,800 is hereby awarded to the
firm of Malcolm Pirnie Inc. to perform tasks 1 through 5 as described in the
Agreement. The cost of these
services shall be paid out of the Operating Budget.
Motion made by Ms. Rader-Harris
Seconded by: Mr. Ryan
Vote:
(8) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(4) Absent
Motion carried.
Ms.
Rader-Harris stated that this will be a major public relations tool for the MVWA
and would like a press release out on this program as soon as possible.
Mr. Becher stated that when the MVWA gets the results of the study it
will put out a press release.
Committee Reports:
Capital Projects:
No report given.
Budget and Finance:
Mr. Brodsky stated that the MVWA cash
position remains positive and all major payments that were outstanding have been
made (paving & retirement). The
cash balance remains reasonable going into the last month of the fiscal year.
Expenses will be approximately $496,000 to the good of which $310,000
will go toward the fiscal ’09 budget.
MVWA: Timeline of Customer
Billing Process – March 2008:
Mr.
Korfonta stated that the goal is to shut off the water before sending the
customer to collections. Mr.
Wallace wanted to know if the Authority charged a deposit up front from the
customer, which it does not.
Several Board members would like to look into that.
The staff will report back to the Board
in three months.
Motion made by Mr. Brodsky.
Seconded by: Ms. Rader-Harris
Vote:
(8) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(4) Absent
Motion carried.
Mr.
Brodsky handed out a copy of the proposed travel policy, which will be discussed
at the next Board meeting. He would
also like to have a strategic planning meeting shortly.
The
MVWA’s fiscal report has been recognized again for excellence in financial
reporting and would like to congratulate Mr. Korfonta for a great job.
Personnel
Committee:
No report given.
Operations:
No report given.
Chairman Gaston appointed Mr. Wallace to the Operations Committee and he
accepted.
Executive Director’s Report:
-
The Water Finance Authority met on March 6; voted to retain as SEQR Counsel,
Wendy Marsh of Hancock & Estabrook for the next round of bonded capital
construction projects and voted to retain O’Brien & Gere Engineers to begin
this year’s Engineering Report to be used in conjunction with the next
borrowing.
-
The Working Group met today and ended just before 4PM.
They will be seeking a brief extension of several weeks to allow all
committees to finalize recommendations on trigger levels and operational
adjustments that would occur when concerns arise.
The committee will be submitting additional language regarding some
further recommended changes in various sections of the report.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 21.
-
Bruce Carpenter from NY Rivers United spoke to the Working Group today and
noted that, so far, the recommendations deal mostly with communications and
don’t detail what specific actions will take place once the higher level
discussions kick in.
-
The lawsuit has not moved very far. John Murad and Ashley Hayes from Hancock
& Estabrook will come to the April 21 Board meeting to give an update on the
lawsuit.
-
Dr. Schreppel stated that the MVWA had visitors from
New Business:
Chairman Gaston stated that at the April Board meeting there will be the
election of Officer’s. Please give
this some thought before the next meeting.
The
next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2008 at 5:00 PM.
Mr.
Brodsky moved to adjourn the meeting.
Seconded by Mr. Wallace.
The
meeting was adjourned at 6:50 PM
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne
M. Harmon, Secretary
