Mohawk Valley Water Authority – May 15, 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, Joseph Hobika, Jr., Nathaniel Price,
Millicent Rader-Harris, Bette Szesny and Frank Trevisani. Absent: Bernard Martin, Sr. Also present:
Patrick Becher, Dick Goodney, James Korfonta, Phil Tangorra and Donald Weimer,
Approval of the April 24,
2006 Minutes: Mr. Trevisani
moved to approve the Minutes. Seconded
by Mr. Brodsky. Ms. Rader-Harris had a
correction. Gray Reservoir is spelled
with an a.
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Absent
Motion carried.
Election of Officers: Mr. Coyne nominated George Gaston for
re-election to the Chairman position, seconded by Ms. Rader-Harris. Mr. Gaston accepted.
Mr. Coyne nominated Elis DeLia for
re-election to the Vice Chairman position, seconded by Mr. Trevisani. Mr. DeLia accepted.
Mr. Trevisani nominated Bruce
Brodsky for re-election to the Treasurer position, seconded by Ms. Szesny. Mr. Brodsky accepted.
Ms. Szesny nominated Suzanne
Harmon for re-election to the Secretary position, seconded by Ms.
Rader-Harris. Ms. Harmon accepted.
No vote was necessary on these elections
because no other candidates were nominated for these positions.
The MVWA requires deliveries of concrete to replace concrete paving in roads and sidewalks, which are excavated for water line installation, maintenance and repairs. The staff sent out a proposal to four qualified companies, only one responded. The Board hereby selects the company of Rome Ready Mix & Block Company of Fulton as the contractor for providing concrete for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007 and authorizes its Executive Director to award a contract for such services to Rome Ready Mix & Block Company for the sum of $101,600. This shall be paid from the fiscal year 2007 Operating Expense Fund. Mr. Brodsky would like to get the dollar amount from last year.
Motion made by Mr. Coyne. Seconded by Mr. DeLia
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Absent
Motion carried.
The MVWA requires services of an
asphalt paving company to replace asphalt paving in streets and roads excavated
for water line installation, maintenance and repairs. Bids were received from four contractors. The Board hereby selects the firm of
JEMCOAT, Inc. of Washington Mills as the contractor for providing asphalt
paving material and services for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007 and
authorizes its Executive Director to award a contract for such services to
JEMCOAT, Inc. for the sum of $363,700.
This shall be paid from the fiscal year 2007 Operating Expense
Fund. Mr. Brodsky wants a promise from
the staff by the next meeting. He would
like a report from every municipality in the MVWA’s water district regarding
their opinions of the MVWA’s patching and paving. The report should be broken down by municipality listing either
their satisfaction with or other recommendations. This report should be presented to the Board at the next
meeting. Mr. Buchner stated that the
concerns and recommendations should come from the Highway Department of each
municipality. Mr. Brodsky agreed.
A Motion was made by Mr. Hobika,
Jr. to table this Resolution. Seconded
by Ms. Rader-Harris
Vote: (2) Ayes Mr. Hobika, Jr.
& Ms. Rader-Harris (8) Nays (1) Absent
Motion denied.
Motion made by Mr. Coyne to pass
the Resolution. Seconded by Mr.
Trevisani.
Vote: (8) Ayes (2) Nays, Mr.
Hobika, Jr. & Ms. Rader-Harris (1)
Absent
Motion carried.
The MVWA has embarked on a program for replacement of several water mains using MVWA crews. It will include the replacement or new installation of approximately 3,090 feet of water mains and related appurtenances in Powell Road, York Street, Leah Street, Commercial Drive and Church Street. It is necessary to purchase from suppliers the necessary pipe, fitting valves and related materials for the work. Five bids were submitted and the low bidder was Martisco Corp. or Liverpool, NY in the amount of $65,900.95. The funds shall be disbursed as a Capital Improvement item from the FY 2007-08 project list under priority #4.
Motion made by Mr. Coyne. Seconded by Mr. DeLia
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.
There are several items listed on
the committee report that will be reviewed by the end of the month.
Budget and Finance: Jim Korfonta stated that he is preparing
numbers for the Audit, which will be done by the end of June. There is a Budget and Finance Committee
Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 18 at 5:00 PM. There are four projects
Steve Gassner, Customer Service Manager is spending time going to court
case and in mediation relating to customer service matters. Mr. Korfonta is working on a concept to
alleviate the amount of time Mr. Gassner spends on this.
Personnel Committee: Mr. Coyne stated that the committee has met
on a few occasions and has come up with a concept with the Agreements and have
not presented it to the individuals involved.
Will wait until next month to discuss.
Chairman Gaston decided that it would be better to wait until this has
been discussed with the individuals before discussing at the Board Meeting.
Operations: Mr. Price stated that the committee has not
met yet. Will set-up a date and time
after the meeting.
Executive Director’s Report: Mr. Becher reported on the following:
· Mr. Becher received a letter on April 5 written by Nicholas Matt stating that the Board of EDGE passed a Resolution urging the MVWA the Canal Corporaiton and the DEC to recognize the urgency of the present situation and to work expeditiously to resolve all disputes to allow for a bountiful water supply to be maintained. This will allow economic growth to resume.
· Mr. Becher received a letter from County Executive Joseph Griffo wanting to arrange mediation between the MVWA and the Canal Corporation. The position of the Board is to have no further contact with the Canal Corporation except through our attorneys. Chairman Gaston wrote a letter on May 10 to our elected officials addressing some of these issues.
· Nicholas Matt, President of The Matt Brewing Company wrote a letter to Ms. Mantello at the Canal Corporation regarding the proposal for an Interim Agreement to the MVWA. Mr. Matt stated that the availability and cost of water is something that is very important to him on a couple of levels. The proposal from an economic standpoint can only be described as outrageous. As a business owner and in his role as Chairman of the Mohawk Valley EDGE, Mr. Matt is disappointed that Ms. Mantello’s agency would submit a proposal that added so much cost to the water in this area. Mr. Matt asks her to find a resolution to the current impasse so that it is not a barrier to economic development efforts in this area.
· The MVWA ran a print ad in the Observer Dispatch a few weeks ago, which talked about the interim proposal from the Canal Corporation. There is a 60 second radio public service announcement piece that is in production. The MVWA wants to make sure all the facts get out to the public. Another print ad will be done in the next few weeks.
· The MVWA has been looking at a 457 Plan for employees, which is a deferred compensation plan. The employee can put money aside on a pre-tax basis and the interest on these accounts is non-taxable. The plan is through the State Retirement System with no cost to the MVWA it is payroll deducted and purely voluntary.
Ms. Rader-Harris asked Chairman Gaston if she could give a 5 – 10 minute presentation at the June Board Meeting under New Business on lead pipes.
Mr. Becher would like to schedule Connie Schreppel, Director of Water Quality to give the Board a history of the legislation and regulations from the EPA related to lead pipes. Also, the history of what the MVWA has done throughout the system.
New Business: Mr. Trevisani had a few articles for the board members to read on other water authorities throughout New York State. There were rate comparisons and other interesting information.
Mr. Coyne stated that the by-laws have not been reviewed in a few years. Chairman Gaston asked Ms. Szesny to chair the By-Laws Committee, which she accepted. Ms. Szesny asked if the members of the Personnel Committee would be on the By-Laws Committee and Mr. Coyne agreed.
Ms. Rader-Harris asked Chairman Gaston to be on the Finance Committee and the Chairman agreed.
Mr. Brodsky wants to use the public access channel to illustrate the professionalism and expertise of the MVWA and its employees. For example, filming the MVWA crews out in the field, the engineering department, the water filtration plant and the laboratory. The Board members agreed.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 19, 2006 at 5:00 PM.
Mr. Trevisani moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Coyne. The meeting was adjourned at 5:58 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary
Mohawk Valley Water Authority