Mohawk Valley Water Authority – November 20, 2006
Chairman Gaston called the meeting
to order at 5:13 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, A. Eugene
Snyder. Absent: Elis DeLia, Nate Price, Bette Szesny and
Frank Trevisani. Also present: Patrick
Becher, Edward Earl, Dick Goodney, James Korfonta, Connie Schreppel, Lis
DeGironimo and Donald Weimer.
Approval of the October 16,
2006 Minutes:
Ms. Rader-Harris asked to have the
Statute for lead pipes put in the minutes.
Joseph Hobika, Jr. had one
correction on page three, third paragraph from the bottom under Old Business,
change from “issues” to read “MVWA water quality issues”.
Mr. Coyne moved to approve the
Minutes with the correction from Mr. Hobika, Jr.
Seconded by Mr. Brodsky.
Vote: (5) Ayes (2) Nays (Ms.
Rader-Harris & Mr. Gaston) (4)
Absent
Motion denied.
Resolution:
Award of Professional Services Contract for Final Design and Related
Services for the Proposed Water Treatment Plant Clearwell
The Board’s current Capital Improvement Plan calls for construction of a new 2.2 million gallon concrete Clearwell at the Water Treatment Plant to comply with EPA water quality regulations. The Board requested proposals from five professional engineering firms to prepare the design and construction documents in accordance with the scope of services described in the Request for Proposals. Barton & Loguidice Consulting Engineers, Syracuse, NY was awarded a contract for the sum of $98,825.00, which will be paid out of the Board’s Capital Improvement Fund.
Motion was made by Mr. DeLia. Seconded by Mr. Coyne.
Vote: (7) Ayes (0) Nays (4) Absent
Motion carried.
Resolution: Award of Professional Services Contract
for Development of Tap Card Management System
Mr. Becher stated that Lis DeGironimo put together the
application. The Board’s staff
identified that a funding source was available to assist in records
management. The staff determined that
there were inefficiencies with the way that tap cards are created and used, and
identified a records management solution to more efficiently manage tap cards. The Board requested five proposals from professional
consulting firms to prepare the tap card management system in accordance with
the scope of services described in the Request for Quotations. Woolpert, Inc., Dayton, OH was awarded the
contract for the sum of $52,700, which is to be paid with grant funds from the
NYS Archives, Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund.
Motion was made by Ms.
Rader-Harris. Seconded by Mr.
Coyne.
Vote: (7) Ayes (0) Nays (4) Absent
Motion Carried.
Discussion: Award of Contract for New Telephone System
Since 1996 the MVWA has been
leasing a phone system that currently does not meet their needs. The new phone system will monitor phone
calls, direct calls off-site, call accounting system and connect with the
Kemble Street and Water Treatment Plant sites.
Six proposals were received and only two qualified, one was from
Northland Communications, Utica, NY and one from Matrix in Syracuse, NY. Northland Communications was the low quote
with a three-year lease. Nate Price,
Chairman of the Operations Committee endorsed the low quote along with Bette
Szesny and the committee. Ms.
Rader-Harris asked Pat to explain the connection with the City of Utica and
Matrix. Mr. Becher stated that Matrix
handles City Hall’s phone system and is in the building frequently, which is
why the City recommended Matrix to the MVWA.
Motion was made by Mr. Hobika, Jr.
to award the contract to Northland Communications. Seconded by Mr. Brodksy.
Vote: (5) Ayes (0) Nays (2) Abstain
(Ms. Rader-Harris & Mr. Gaston)
(4) Absent
Contract was not awarded.
Committee Reports:
Capital Projects: Mr. Goodney stated that there was a
committee meeting on 11/14 and the report was in the Board packet.
Budget and Finance: Mr. Brodsky stated that cash flow continues
to be positive. At seven months, billed
water sales are up, which is a reflection of the rate increase and consumption
is down. Mr. Brodsky complimented the
staff on the good job they did handling Windsong Mountain. Mr. Hobika, Jr. suggested sending a letter
to the new management of Windsong for paying the outstanding water bill so
quickly. Mr. Hobika, Jr. also asked if
the service addresses could be put on the delinquent receivables. Mr. Brodsky stated that there was a meeting
with the City to settle their large debt to the Authority and encouraged the
staff to finalize the proposal and bring it back to the Board. The Controller has been asked to put
together three or four models that would amend the current rate structure and
bring it to a Finance Committee as soon as possible so that it can be voted on
prior to the budget process. Ms.
Rader-Harris commended Mr. Goodney, Mr. Weimer and Ms. Schreppel for foreseeing
the problems with the Clearwell Tank.
Personnel Committee: Mr. Coyne stated that the committee did not
meet this month.
Operations: No report given.
Executive Director’s Report: Mr. Becher reported on the following:
- Moody’s praised the Board and management’s
willingness to raise the rates as necessary to keep the system operating,
which put the Authority in a good credit position. They feel that all of these unfunded
mandates by the federal government will be borne by local users. Mr. Becher thanked Mr. Korfonta for all
his work through this process.
Moody’s felt the lawsuit would not impact the Authority’s rating
and maintained our current rating, which is A3. Mr. Korfonta handed out a summary of the final numbers and
stated that the total bonding was $20,300,000. The Authority now has all the funds necessary to move ahead
with the capital projects necessary for the next two years. Mr. Korfonta is sending a packet to the
Water Finance Authority members in the next day or so and Board members
will receive a copy shortly.
- The site in Marcy is considered a world-class
site for potential microchip plants and has been written up in a few
magazines. The microchip industry
is fully aware of the site in Marcy and it is considered the 2nd
best site in the world. The
microchip industry grows in clusters and EDGE and local political leaders
feel that it is not a matter of if, but when. The State legislature earmarked another $4 million to
continue site improvements.
- In December the Authority will begin its budget
process and begin drafting the budget and have it in front of the Board in
January.
Mr. Brodsky congratulated Mr. Becher and Mr. Korfonta on the
hard work they did with the bonding.
Old Business:
Ms. Rader-Harris showed two photographs of a MVWA crew working on a
break down the street from her house.
Ms. Rader-Harris praised the men for the work they were doing to
stabilize the site. The MVWA has a
great staff at the Kemble street site.
Until the Board gets a lead service line replacement plan it will not be
the Authority that it claims to be.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 18,
2006 at 5:00 PM.
Motion made by Mr. Coyne to go into Executive Session to
discuss the Purchase Offer for Toby Road Tank Site Parcel. Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky.
Motion Carried.
Resolution: Purchase of Property on Toby Road
Motion made by Mr. Hobika,
Jr. Seconded by Mr. Coyne.
Vote: (7) Ayes (0) Nays (4) Absent
Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary
Mohawk Valley Water Authority
