Mohawk Valley Water Authority – May 19, 2008
Chairman Gaston called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM and opened with the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call:
Present: Rocco Arcuri, Bruce Brodsky,
Chairman Gaston presided and Patrick Becher took the minutes.
Public Comment Period
Barbara
Waters spoke to the Board regarding the status of her account.
Mr. Becher thanked Ms. Waters for coming and stated that the Board will
look into this matter and will get back to her.
Executive Session:
Litigation
Motion
made at 5:25 PM to go into Executive Session to discuss the litigation
proceedings with John Murad and Ashley Hayes from Hancock & Estabrook by Mr.
DeLia. Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Motion
made to come out of Executive Session at 6:20 PM by: Mr. Trevisani.
Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky.
Approval of the April 21, 2008 Minutes:
A
motion will be made at the June 16, 2008 Board meeting for approval of the April
21 and May 19, 2008 minutes.
Water Treatment Plant:
Furnish and Install Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) for DBP Control Full Scale
Pilot Study – GAC Supply Contract 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.
MVWA 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. The FY 2009
operating budget includes $175,000 under line “Chemicals” for performance of a
full scale pilot study that involves replacing the filter media in one filter
with GAC and associated professional services and testing.
Bids were received from two firms of which Calgon Corp. was the lowest
bidder in the amount of $257,308 and was awarded the contract.
Motion made by: Mr. DeLia.
Seconded by: Mr. Trevisani
Vote:
(9) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(2) Absent
Motion carried.
Water Treatment Plant:
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) for DBP Control Full Scale Pilot Study – Malcolm
Pirnie, Inc. Professional Services Award
MVWA
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. On March 18, 2008 the Board
approved GAC Pilot Study related professional services for tasks 1 through 5 at
a cost of $19,800, work which is now underway.
Bids will be awarded under a separate resolution.
A professional services contract in the amount of $20,200 is hereby
awarded to the firm of MPI to perform tasks 6 and 7.
Motion made by: Mr. Brodsky.
Seconded by: Mr. Trevisani
Vote:
(9) Ayes (0) Nays
(0) Abstain (2) Absent
Motion carried.
Bonding Request to Water
Finance Authority
Mr.
Becher stated that the Board of the MVWA passed a budget for the fiscal year
that began on 4/1/08. Within the
approved budget is an amount dedicated to new debt service to support the
anticipated borrowing of $17,000,000 to be commenced as soon as practicable.
The cost would be $15,500,000 if the MVWA is able to use the 2003 Bonds.
On behalf of the MVWA, it is hereby requested that the Board of the UMV
Water Finance Authority initiate and proceed with the process of selling water
revenue bonds to support the borrowing needs for capital repairs and regulatory
compliance.
Mr.
Snyder would like the record to state that he feels uncertain of prices in the
market which makes it very uncertain what the bonds will finance.
Motion made by: Mr. Arcuri.
Seconded by: Mr. Trevisani
Vote:
(9) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(2) Absent
Motion carried
Power Purchase Agreement
between Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid and the City of
The
parties to PPA No. 669 desire to extend the term of the Agreement beyond 2/29/08
whereby Seller will continue to sell and deliver and Niagara will continue to
receive and purchase all of the Electricity generated by the
The
parties to PPA No. 670 desire to extend the term of the Agreement beyond 5/7/08
whereby Seller will continue to sell and deliver and
Mr.
Becher will sign on behalf of the MVWA which has assumed administrative
management, maintenance and operation of the subject hydroelectric plants
located on water lines owned by MVWA.
As has been the practice since 1996, National Grid should continue to
make payments for purchase of energy from these plants to MVWA.
Motion made by: Mr. Trevisani.
Seconded by: Mr. Price
Vote:
(8) Ayes (1) Nay
(Mr. Snyder)
(0) Abstain
(2) Absent
Motion carried.
Committee Reports:
Capital Projects:
Mr. DeLia stated that the committee met
this afternoon and discussed the resolutions that were just passed along with
other items that do not need Board approval.
Budget and Finance:
Mr. Brodsky asked the staff to prepare
a written report on the progress related to shut-offs and updated on the
installation of the GPS vehicle tracking units.
The MVWA annual audit will begin June 2, 2008.
Mr. Brodsky handed out the existing MVWA Investment Policy which will be
reviewed and approved at a future Board meeting.
Personnel
Committee:
Mr. Ryan stated that the committee did not meet this month.
Operations:
Mr. Price stated that the committee did meet.
Mr. Mack gave a brief presentation
on the GPS system recently installed in the MVWA’s vehicles.
Mr. Mack has started upgrading the MVWA website for customer accounts.
It will have a secure customer sign on with user information and the
ability to update their profile if needed.
It will also show the customers current account balance and year to date
and transaction history.
Executive Director’s Report:
-
Suzanne Harmon will be out for the rest of the week and Mr. Becher will be
attending the Perma Conference on May 21 to 23 but will be available by cell
phone or e-mail.
-
The Working Group’s new communication protocol requires the group to call in
every Friday morning. The calls are
initiated by the Power Authority and everyone reports what is going on.
The purpose of these calls is to alert anyone on what they might
need. The MVWA is looking at setting
up on the website a site for the Power Authority, Canal Corporation and DEC
to post updates on a weekly basis to keep up the communication.
-
Mr. Becher will be speaking to a group of retired Niagara Mohawk employees
on Tuesday evening regarding the
water situation.
-
Recently Attorney Ted Earl prepared a new draft of the by-laws and Mr.
Becher is requesting from the Chairman that the By-Laws Committee meet and
bring them back to the Board for approval.
The By-Laws Committee members are
-
Dr. Schreppel was conducting a
training course, to develop a data base to be utilized for first responders
and inform them on critical infrastructure.
They will look at our assets and build a data base on this.
The instructors were from the National Guard in
Old Business:
Mr.
Brodsky feels there may need to be a motion to transfer assets to balance the
budget for the current fiscal year.
The
next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 16, 2008 at 5:00 PM.
Executive Session:
Motion
was made at 7:25 PM to go into Executive Session to discuss the land purchase on
Motion
made by: Mr. Brodsky
Seconded by: Mr. Price
Motion Carried.
Motion
made by Ms. Szesny to come out of Executive Session at 7:35 PM.
Seconded by Mr. Trevisani. Motion
Carried.
Purchase of Stevens Swan
Humane Society’s Interest in Property on
The
Board authorizes its Executive Director to enter into a contract for purchase of
the Society’s ¾ interest in the property for the sum of $51,000 and upon the
other terms and conditions contained in the form of the purchase offer which
accompanied Resolution 2006-26.
Motion made by: Ms. Szesny.
Seconded by: Mr. Ryan
Vote:
(9) Ayes (0)
Nays (0) Abstain
(2) Absent
Motion carried.
Motion
made to adjourn the meeting by: Mr. DeLia.
Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky.
Motion
Carried.
The
meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne
M. Harmon, Secretary
