Mohawk Valley Water Authority – October 20, 2008
Chairman Gaston called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM and opened with the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call:
Present: Bruce Brodsky,
Chairman Gaston presided and Suzanne Harmon took the minutes.
Public Comment:
1) Health insurance for retirees:
The new insurance was supposed to be equal to or better than what they
have now, it is not. There is no
dental or optical either.
2) Personal property:
Mr. Bova had a company vehicle assigned
to him, when he retired his assistant took items out of his vehicle and they
were suppose to secure them. Items
were not inventoried or signed for and other items were taken off his desk.
Mr. Bova gave a list to Mr. Santry in July 2008.
One item was a pair of glasses.
Mr. Becher will get back to Mr. Bova within a week.
Approval of the August 18, 2008 Minutes:
Motion made by: Mr. Trevisani
Seconded by: Mr. DeLia
Vote: (9) Ayes
(0) Nays
(0) Abstain (3) Absent
Motion carried.
Review and Approval of the Quarterly Investment Statement
Mr. Korfonta stated that they are required to review this on a quarterly basis.
These are investments that are in the trust funds.
This is a requirement under
Motion made to accept this report by: Mr. Brodsky
Seconded by: Mr. Price
Vote: (9) Ayes
(0) Nays
(0) Abstain (3) Absent
Motion carried.
Resolution: Facility Planning and Consolidation Study Update – Professional
Services Contract to McDonald & Montrose
The Board’s current Facility Planning and Consolidation Study was prepared in
2001 by McDonald & Montrose Architects, LLP.
The MVWA has undertaken Strategic Planning, refined the internal
organization and electronic communications and implemented the customer service
and work order systems. In light of
these changes it is recommended that the study be updated.
A professional services contract in the amount of $7,100 is hereby
awarded to the firm of McDonald & Montrose for this study in accordance with the
scope of services on file in the Engineering Department.
These services shall be paid out of the Capital Improvement Fund.
Motion moved as presented by: Mr. DeLia
Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Mr. Snyder would like a completion date of December 31, 2008.
Motion amended to include a completion of 12/31/08 by: Mr. Wicks.
Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Vote: (9) Ayes
(0) Nays
(0) Abstain (3) Absent
Motion carried.
Resolution: Transmission System Hydraulic Model Update – Professional Services
Contract to CH2MHill
The MVWA is undertaking construction of several new storage projects on the
transmission system including two new tanks on the Toby Road and therefore needs
the current hydraulic model expanded to include these and several other projects
to establish the optimal elevation of the Toby Road Tanks.
The staff is recommending CH2MHill who has unique experience for the
modeling effort since they are the only firm operating the model, have developed
the model from inception and have performed all testing, validation and
calibration. The contract in the
amount of $16,030 is hereby awarded to the firm of CH2MHill for the transmission
system modeling in accordance with the scope of services on file in the
Engineering Department. The cost of
the services shall be paid out of the Capital Improvement Fund.
Motion amended to include a completion date of December 31, 2008 by: Mr.
Brodsky.
Seconded by: Mr. Trevisani
Vote: (9) Ayes
(0) Nays
(0) Abstain (3) Absent
Motion carried.
Committee Reports:
Capital Projects:
Mr. DeLia stated that the committee met
on October 17, 2008 and reviewed agenda items 6 and 7, which were just approved
by the Board.
Budget and Finance:
Mr. Brodsky stated that the committee
also met on October 17. Mr.
Brodsky’s personal target for the annual budget increase is 4%.
Mr. Brodsky stated that the Board needs to focus on the capital plan,
which should be slowed down. The
MVWA is just about breaking even right now and Mr. Brodsky asked the staff to
look at expenses.
Mr. Korfonta stated that the MVWA just went through a
Mr. Brodsky handed out a Conflict of Interest Statement, which will be put on
the November 17 board agenda for review and approval.
Mr. Korfonta stated that the Authority has to have a budget in place by January
1, 2009 and the first workshop should be held in the first week in November.
Personnel Committee:
Mr. Ryan stated that the committee met twice this month and will go into
Executive Session.
Operations:
Mr. Price stated that the committee did not meet this month.
Mr. Snyder is looking for the in-depth proposal on repairs to customer
service lines, which was in the August 18, 2008 minutes.
Put this on the November board agenda.
Executive Director’s Report:
1. Bonding – We have slowed the
bonding process down a little bit and are watching the market.
The rate right now is 7.1%.
Debt service payments have gone up as well.
We are going to put a hold on this for 3-4 weeks.
If the rates remain high we may go ahead with the bonding anyway and when
the rates come down the Authority can re-finance then.
The Authority could also use the
The second half of the program for the unfunded mandates is to close the open
reservoirs and go to covered tanks.
The compliance deadline for this is 2012.
Mr. Brodsky would like to send a letter to our elected officials asking
for an extension on the 2012 deadline.
Mr. DeLia stated that the federal unfunded mandates have a profound impact on
the Authority’s budget. Ms.
Schreppel has a presentation on all of these mandates and will set-up a seminar
for all of the newer board members before the December 2008 board meeting.
2. Litigation – September 26, 2008
was the deadline for summary judgment motions.
Rebuttals to motions were due last Friday, which Hancock & Estabrook did
file. On November 25 all arguments
will be heard at the same time. The
Canal Corporation filed a motion against the Water Authority and we filed a
cross motion. Summary judgment
motions will be finalized and the trial is set for February 9, 2009.
3. The County Health Department –
presented the MVWA the 2007 Water Fluoridation Quality Award.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention commends this water system
for its consistent and professional adjustment of the water fluoride content to
the optimum level for oral health for 12 consistent months.
Mr. Ryan would like that put in the Observer-Dispatch.
Mr. DeLia left the meeting before Old Business.
Old Business:
Mr. Snyder would like Mr. Becher to look into a paving issue between Route 5 and
Cosby Manor.
Mr. Becher welcomed T.W. Video Productions who will be filming the MVWA’s
monthly Board meetings.
Executive Session:
Motion made by Mr. Brodsky to go into Executive Session at 6:36 PM to discuss
personnel matters. Seconded by:
Mr. Trevisani Motion
Carried.
Vote: (8) Ayes
(0) Nays (4)
Absent (Mr. DeLia left before
Executive Session) Motion carried.
Motion made to come out of Executive Session at 6:50 PM by Mr. Ryan.
Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky.
Vote: (8) Ayes
(0) Nays (4)
Absent
Motion carried.
No action was taken in Executive Session.
The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 17, 2008 at 5:00 PM.
Mr. Brodsky moved to adjourn the meeting.
Seconded by: Mr. Ryan
The meeting was adjourned at 6:54 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary
