Mohawk Valley Water Authority – November 19, 2007

Chairman Gaston called the meeting to order at 5:12 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call:  Present: Bruce Brodsky, Rolf Buchner, Vincent Coyne, George Gaston,   Joseph Hobika, Jr., Millicent Rader-Harris, Donald Ryan, A. Eugene Snyder, Frank Trevisani and Bette Szesny.   Absent: Elis DeLia and Nathaniel Price.  Also present: Edward Earl, James Korfonta, Connie Schreppel, Dick Goodney, Steve Gassner and Donald Weimer.

Chairman Gaston presided and Suzanne Harmon took the minutes.

Approval of the October 15, 2007 Minutes:

Motion made by Mr. Coyne to approve the minutes.  Seconded by: Mr. Ryan.

Vote:  (9) Ayes  (0) Nays  (1) Abstain – Mr. Trevisani   (2) Absent    Motion Carried.

Resolution: Relocation and Adjustment to Water Mains and Appurtenances

The Resolution is to authorize the NY State Department of Transportation to include in their construction project a water main at a new bridge on Route 291 at the Erie Canal.  The relocation of a 16-inch water main from the existing bridge to an under-water crossing will be installed using directional drilling techniques.  The service line of the relocated and/or replaced utilities has not been extended.  The project to relocate the water main will be accomplished without cost to the Mohawk Valley Water Authority.

Motion made by Mr. Coyne.  Seconded by: Mr. Trevisani.

Vote:  (10) Ayes  (0) Nays  (0) Abstain   (2) Absent    Motion Carried.

Chairman Gaston asked two board members to be on the following committees:

Mr. Snyder – Capital Projects and Budget and Finance Committees

Mr. Ryan – Operations and Personnel Committees

Both members accepted the appointments.

Committee Reports:

Capital Projects:  Mr. Coyne stated that one item was discussed and voted on earlier and the second one is the Calvary Cemetery Service and MVWA Easement negotiations.  Principal Engineer, Don Weimer presented a proposal recently agreed to by the Director of Catholic Cemeteries, Syracuse Diocese to provide easements for the MVWA to construct a 16-inch water main between the Valley View Tank to Oneida Street in Utica.  These easements would be provided in exchange for the MVWA to extend an 8-inch main in Mason Road by 240 feet and install a 950 foot water service line within Calvary Cemetery.  The cost for materials only will be $13,120. 

The motion is to go ahead and trade the easement for the project, not the actual work. 

Motion made by Mr. Buchner.  Seconded by Mr. Trevisani.

Vote:  (9) Ayes  (0) Nays  (1) Abstain – Mr. Snyder   (2) Absent    Motion Carried

Mr. Snyder wanted to clarify his vote.  He did not have sufficient total dollar amount of what this would cost the Water Authority.

Mr. Coyne would like a summary of costs for material and labor.  Chairman Gaston asked Mr. Becher to please get this information for the Board.

Personnel Committee:  Mr. Coyne stated that the committee did not meet this month but will meet within the next two weeks.

Budget and Finance:  Mr. Brodsky stated that a committee meeting was held earlier today.  Mr. Korfonta handed out a copy of the MVWA Surplus Property Disposition Policy.  The policy formalizes the MVWA’s process for disposing of surplus property and puts the Water Authority in compliance.  Chairman Gaston tabled this item until the next Board Meeting. 

Water sales and consumption for October increased 1 million cubic feet compared to the prior year and increased 500,000 cubic feet compared to the last time this was billed in July.  The

increase in consumption occurred primarily with the quarterly accounts.  Year-to-date the cash position has taken a dramatic turn for the better.  The MVWA received $500,000 more in current billed water receipts during the month.  This is in addition to the $200,000 received in delinquent

water receipts from the City of Utica.  This has been a very active Fall with water main breaks.  Mr. Korfonta stated that the Authority has gone out for formalized banking proposals and has received four.  These bids will come before the Board soon. 

Mr. Korfonta stated that there is a Budget Workshop Meeting scheduled for Monday, November 26, 2007 at 5:00 PM

Operations:  No report given.

Executive Director’s Report:

• Mr. Becher stated that he will be contacting Mr. Price to set-up an Operations Committee meeting to follow-up on service leaks on the customer side.  Mr. Snyder requested at a committee meeting that the MVWA put together an informational packet for the customer regarding this issue.  The committee will review and then bring it to the Board.
• An Automated Meter Reading proposal will be ready within the next 60-90 days.  The proposal will have a fixed network and hybrid network along with the costs related to both.
• The Governor has put together a working group to discuss the Hinckley Reservoir situation.  There have been two meetings so far.  An outline has been laid out defining the issues that need to be examined and committees have been assigned. The three committees are: Communications, chaired by the State Office of Emergency Management, Operations chaired by the Power Authority and Hydrology chaired by the DEC.  There is an interim report that is due mid December and the final report is due in March 2008.  From the Water Authority’s standpoint the goal is to have a sound supply of drinking water for the public, which needs to be preserved at all times.  

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 10, 2007 at 10:00 AM in the State Office Building.    

• Discovery in the litigation with the Canal Corporation was suppose to be wrapped up by December 1 but because of the Governor’s new working group the Canal Corporation stated that they could not meet that date.  Mr. Murad argued that the MVWA is also part of the group and is meeting their discovery demands.  The Judge will allow the Canal Corporation until January 15, 2008 to meet their discovery demands.

• Mr. Becher asked Dr. Schreppel to explain NY WARN.  A Water and Wastewater Agency Response network (WARN) is a network of utilities helping other utilities to respond to and recover from emergencies.  The purpose of a WARN is to provide a method whereby water/wastewater utilities that have sustained or anticipated damages from natural or human-caused incidents can provide and receive emergency aid and assistance in the form of personnel, equipment, materials and other associated services as necessary from other water/wastewater utilities.  The objective is to provide rapid, short-term deployment of emergency services to restore the critical operations of the affected water/wastewater utility. 
• Mr. Hobika, Jr. asked how the MVWA would participate in WARN and what would the cost be over a period of time.  Mr. Hobika, Jr. made a Motion to consider the Agreement and table it until the Board can get a cost analysis and the Board’s attorney can review the Agreement.  Seconded by: Ms. Rader-Harris.  

            Vote:  (10) Ayes  (0) Nays   (2) Absent    Motion Carried

Mr. Hobika, Jr. stated that the rates will probably rise again this year and the Board needs to come up with alternative revenue sources, which has been discussed in the past.  The Board should have some meaningful discussions regarding generating revenue and he asked the Executive Director and Comptroller to put together ideas and bring them to the Board.  In January  the Authority should have written requests for member items, such as a tanker truck, funds for studies, etc.

Old Business:

Ms. Rader-Harris stated that she went to a Town of Trenton town meeting and Mr. Eikelhoff approached her and stated that he sent a letter along with pictures of flood damages that he had in 2004 to the MVWA.   The MVWA Board did not respond to the letter and Mr. Eikelhoff would like a response.  Mr. Hobika, Jr. stated that he needs to hire an attorney and file a Notice of Claim.  Mr. Becher will look into this. 

New Business:

Mr. Coyne wanted to know if any modifications have taken place to the MVWA’s legislation since 1996.  Mr. Becher stated that there was one change requested by the City of Utica. The City was allowed to draw down on the ten million dollars.

Mr. Coyne stated it is time to review the legislation and make modifications, such as the lease with the City of Utica.  Chairman Gaston stated that the Board’s attorney will review the process and will discuss it at the next board meeting. 

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for December 17, 2007 at 5:00 PM.

Mr. Brodsky moved to adjourn the meeting.  Seconded by Mr. Ryan.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:49 PM

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________ 

Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary 

Mohawk Valley Water Authority