Mohawk Valley Water Authority – October 16, 2006
Chairman Gaston called the meeting
to order at 5:06 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call: Present: Rolf Buchner, Vincent Coyne, Elis
DeLia, George Gaston, Nathaniel Price, Millicent Rader-Harris, A. Eugene
Snyder, Bette Szesny and Frank Trevisani.
Absent: Bruce Brodsky. Also present: Patrick Becher, Edward Earl,
Dick Goodney, James Korfonta, Connie Schreppel and Donald Weimer.
Chairman Gaston welcomed A. Eugene
Snyder as the newest member of the MVWA Board.
Mr. Snyder was appointed by the Town of Marcy from 10/12/06 to
12/31/06.
Approval of the August 21,
2006 Minutes:
Ms. Rader-Harris asked to have the
minutes amended by adding the Statute regarding replacing residential water
service pipes containing lead, which she discussed at the August meeting.
Mr. Trevisani moved to approve the
Minutes as is. Seconded by Mr.
DeLia.
Vote: (6) Ayes (1) Nays (Ms.
Rader-Harris) (1) Absent (2) Abstain (Mr. Coyne and Mr. Snyder)
Motion denied.
Joseph Hobika, Jr. arrived after
the first motion was made to approve the Minutes.
Chairman Gaston brought up the
fact that the Minutes could be re-introduced and voted on again.
There was some discussion
regarding the paragraph Ms. Rader-Harris wanted inserted in the minutes and a
second motion was made.
Mr. Trevisani moved to approve the
Minutes. Seconded by Mr. DeLia.
Vote: (7) Ayes (1) Nays (Ms.
Rader-Harris) (1) Absent (2) Abstain (Mr. Coyne and Mr. Snyder)
Motion carried.
Resolution:
The MVWA Accepting Part 1 of the Full Environmental Assessment Form and
Issuing Notice of Intent to Establish the MVWA as “Lead Agency” Pursuant to the
State Environmental Quality Review Act Relative to the Deerfield Storage Tank Project
The new Tank will provide 10 MG of water storage for the MVWA Low Zone and permit the 100 year-old open and unlined Deerfield Reservoir to be placed on standby service. The majority of the Tank will be located in a depression and out of public view. The project is needed to comply with new EPA water quality regulations requiring all water storage to be covered. The project also includes siting an above ground regulating facility, connecting water mains, instrumentation and control facilities. The Authority identified the NYS Dept of Health, NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation and NYS Office of General Services as SEQRA Involved Agencies relative to the Project. The Authority identified the Oneida County Dept of Public Works, Oneida County Health Dept and Town of Deerfield as SEQRA Interested Agencies relative to the Project. The Board intends to establish itself as Lead Agency with respect to the Project in accordance with the SEQRA regulations at 6 NYCRR.
Motion was made by Mr. DeLia. Seconded by Mr. Coyne.
Vote: (9) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Absent
(1) Abstain (A. Eugene
Snyder)
Motion carried.
Resolution: The MVWA Issuing Negative Declaration Pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act Relative to the Deerfield Storage Tank Project
The MVWA has determined that the
proposed project described above will not have a significant effect on the
environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement will not be
prepared. The project may create some visual
impacts but will not cause a substantial adverse change in existing air
quality. It will not cause the removal
or destruction of large quantities of vegetation or fauna. The project will provide improved fire and
emergency storage and service. The
Project will not cause the creation of a hazard to human health.
Motion was made by Mr. DeLia. Seconded by Mr. Coyne.
Vote: (9) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Absent
(1) Abstain (Mr. A. Eugene
Snyder)
The MVWA proposes to undertake construction of a second Clearwell Tank at the Hinckley Water Treatment Plant located on Prospect Road, in the Town of Trenton, Oneida County, New York. it
The need for a second tank at the
WTP has been identified as a priority to meet current treatment regulations at
certain combinations of water quality and demand and to ensure compliance with
the EPA’s State 2 DPB rules by 2010.
The Board intends to establish itself Lead Agency with respect to the
Project in accordance with the SEQRA regulations at 6 NYCRR.
Motion made by Ms.
Rader-Harris. Seconded by Mr.
Price.
Vote: (9) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Absent
(1) Abstain (Mr. A. Eugene Snyder)
Motion carried.
Resolution:
The MVWA Issuing Negative Declaration Pursuant to the State
Environmental Quality Review Act Relative to the Hinckley Water Treatment Plant
Project
The MVWA has determined that the
proposed project described above will not have a significant effect on the
environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement will not be
prepared. The project may create some
visual impacts but will not cause a substantial adverse change in existing air
quality. It will not cause the removal
or destruction of large quantities of vegetation or fauna. The project will provide improved fire and
emergency storage and service. The
Project will not cause the creation of a hazard to human health.
Motion made by Ms.
Rader-Harris. Seconded by Ms.
Szesny.
Vote: (9) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Absent
(1) Abstain (Mr. A. Eugene
Snyder)
Motion carried.
Award of Professional Services Contract for Final Design and Related Services for the Proposed Deerfield Tank
The Board has requested proposals from seven professional engineering firms to prepare the design and construction documents in accordance with the scope of services described in the Request for Proposals. The staff has evaluated and ranked the proposals based on qualifications, technical approach and fees and has determined that O’Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc. Syracuse, NY is the highest ranked and has been selected. The Executive Director will award a contract for the sum of $117,070, which is to be paid as a capital improvement out of the Board’s Capital Improvement Fund.
Motion made by Ms. Szesny. Seconded by Mr. DeLia.
Vote: (9) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Absent
(1) Abstain (Mr. A. Eugene
Snyder)
Motion carried.
Chairman Gaston asked Suzanne
Harmon to mail Mr. Snyder a copy of the MVWA’s Procedures for RFP’s.
Committee Reports:
Capital Projects: Mr. DeLia stated that the committee met
regarding the above Resolutions along with a few other issues, which are all in
the Capital Projects Committee Report.
Chairman Gaston commended the committee for doing a good job on the
above resolutions.
Budget and Finance: Mr. Korfonta stated that there was a Rate
Model meeting, which was video taped if any Board member is interested in
watching it. Consumption is down
compared to last year due to that fact that it was a wet summer this year.
Personnel Committee: Mr. Coyne stated that the committee met and
completed its task of finalizing Employment Agreements for Mr. Korfonta and Mr.
Becher. The committee now needs to meet
with Mr. Santry to review personnel policies that are in place or need to be in
place.
Operations: Mr. Price stated that the committee did not
meet but needs to get together to discuss what direction to go in. Mr. Becher stated that the proposals are in
for the new telephone system. The MVWA
is specifically looking at new features for the customer service
department. This is something the
committee could review and then develop a recommendation for the Board.
Executive Director’s Report: Mr. Becher reported on the following:
-
Bond counsel and litigation lawyers are working on
disclosure language regarding the court case.
The court case should not affect the price of the bonds. The last three times the Authority went out
to bond the rating has increased and therefore the insurance goes down.
-
A conference call with Moody’s will be scheduled within the
next few days to get a bond rating.
-
Hope to have a final closing and deposit of proceeds within
the next few weeks.
- On Thursday, 10/12 counsel for all three parties met with Judge Hester because Erie Boulevard and the Canal Corporation would not commit to dates. As a result of that conference:
§
The first round of depositions to be completed by 12/15.
§
The Judge would like the parties to mediate concurrently
with other follow-up activities and be wrapped up by January 31.
NIMS (National Incident Management
System) training and certification was successfully completed for all first
response personnel within Federal deadline of September 25.
Old Business:
Ms. Rader-Harris questioned why a statement, that was discussed at the
last Board meeting, stating the MVWA customers should run their tap water for
20 seconds or longer in the morning before drinking, was not put on the
customers bill. Mr. Becher stated that
it was agreed upon to go in the Newsletter, which has not been completed.
Ms. Rader-Harris stated that she foiled the MVWA for the
cost of Lime and Soda Ash and has not received the information. Mr. Becher stated that there are 10 years
worth of invoices to go through, which would be many hours of work for one
employee. If the Board agrees that this
is a good use of the MVWA’s staff time, we will do it.
There was some discussion regarding changing out all the
lead service pipes as opposed to doing corrosion control. Mr. Becher stated that the cost for
replacing the pipes would mean a 15% rate increase to the MVWA customers, which
would not solve the problem. There is a
lead and copper program in place. It is
more cost effective to treat the water with lime and soda ash than changing the
lead pipes.
Mr. DeLia sees no reason to keep discussing this issue
meeting after meeting.
Mr. Hobika, Jr. would like to remind our ratepayers that the
MVWA has an excellent staff that addresses the MVWA water quality issues.
Mr. DeLia stated that in RoAnn Destito’s bill re-reaffirming our water rights you would see Legislative comments from Mr. Butler and Mr. Townsend on this very important issue. Mr. DeLia would like the Record of Proceedings placed on the MVW website. The staff has an opportunity to respond to the statements made by Mr. Butler and Mr. Townsend, which are false
Motion made by: Mr. Hobika, Jr. To provide the Record of Proceedings to the public relations firm
that the MVWA retained in connection with the lawsuit and have them come back
to the Authority with a recommendation on how to deal with any potential
misinformation that is contained in the Proceedings.
Motion Seconded by:
Ms. Rader-Harris
Vote: (7) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Absent
(2) Abstain (Mr. DeLia and Ms.
Szesny)
Motion carried.
Mr. Trevisani suggested the Operations Committee look at
more energy efficient ways to run the MVWA.
Mr. Becher will take a look at the fleet using alternative fuel sources.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 20,
2006 at 5:00 PM.
Motion made by Mr. Hobika, Jr. to go into Executive Session
to discuss the litigation.
Motion seconded by Mr. Trevisani. Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary
Mohawk Valley Water Authority