Mohawk Valley Water Authority – October 15, 2007

 

Chairman Gaston called the meeting to order at 5:01 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

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

Chairman Gaston presided and Suzanne Harmon took the minutes.

 

Motion made by Mr. Hobika, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Brodsky to go into Executive Session to receive an update on the litigation from John Murad and Ashley Hayes from Hancock & Estabrook at 5:04 PM.   

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

 

Executive Session:   

Motion made to come out of Executive Session by Mr. Hobika, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Brodsky.     

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

 

Approval of the September 17, 2007 Minutes:

Motion made by Mr. DeLia to approve the minutes.  Seconded by: Mr. Buchner.

Ms. Rader-Harris asked to amend the minutes to include a brief discussion that took place between her and Mr. Brodsky.  Seconded by Mr. Hobika, Jr.     

Vote:  (2) Ayes  (8) Nays    (2) Absent    Motion Denied.

Motion made by Mr. DeLia to approve the minutes as presented.  Seconded by Mr. Hobika, Jr.

Vote:  (8) Ayes  (1) Nays - Ms. Rader-Harris (1) Abstain – Mr. Ryan   (2) Absent    Motion Carried.

 

Approval of the September 28, 2007 Special Board Meeting Minutes:

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

Mr. Hobika, Jr. would like it stated that he was absent due to a conflict.

Vote:  (5) Ayes  (1) Nays - Ms. Rader-Harris (4) Abstain – Mr. Hobika, Jr., Mr. Coyne, Mr. DeLia & Mr. Buchner   (2) Absent    Motion Denied.

 

Approval of the October 5, 2007 Special Board Meeting Minutes:

Motion made by Mr. DeLia to approve the minutes as presented.  Seconded by: Mr. Hobika, Jr.

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

 

Committee Reports:

Capital Projects:  Mr. DeLia stated that the committee did not meet this month due to a lack of agenda items.     

Budget and Finance:  Mr. Brodsky stated that for September consumption increased and was split between quarterly and monthly accounts.  Year-to-date the cash position continues to be positive.  The MVWA has not been billed for paving by the contractor.  This bill is anticipated at $300,000.  The MVWA is considering legal action for not complying with the contract.  The MVWA is scheduled to make the annual retirement payment in December of $500,000.  Mr. Brodsky has asked the engineering department to plot main breaks using the GIS system and when completed will bring to the Board.    

Mr. Becher received a check in the amount of $200,000 from the City of Utica on 10/15/07 for payments made by the MVWA customers.  Mr. Becher and Mr. Korfonta recommend that the Board accept the first payment, review the memorandum of understanding and negotiate the remaining balance.  

 

Motion made by Mr. Snyder to receive counsel from the Board’s attorney, Edward Earl, on whether to accept the check in the amount of $200,000 from the City of Utica for payments made on delinquent water bills by the MVWA customers and review the memorandum of understanding.  Seconded by Mr. Brodsky.  Motion carried by all.

            

Mr. Brodsky asked Mr. Korfonta to put the date of action taken on delinquent receivables in the monthly financial statement.

 

Personnel Committee:  Mr. Coyne stated that the committee did not meet this month.

Operations:  No report given.

 

Executive Director’s Report:

 

Mr. Snyder asked how the MVWA customers did with the recent water conservation.  Mr. Weimer stated that there was a 10% decrease in use.

 

Mr. Brodsky asked Mr. Weimer to compile a list of users who did conserve so that the Board could recognize these customers. 

 

Mr. Snyder would like to recognize the MVWA customers for cutting back on water use as soon as they were told about the seriousness of the water situation.  The MVWA customers should be honored in the press and the Board thanks them.

 

Motion made by Mr. Snyder.  To have the MVWA Board notify the local politicians with a general mailing stating that if they hold any meetings, dialogue, studies or investigations, the MVWA is a principle party in those matters and the Board will feel that they are not properly run meetings unless the MVWA is included.  Seconded by Mr. DeLia.  Motion carried by all.

 

Old Business:

Mr. Korfonta stated that within the next few weeks the first Board finance workshop will be held.

 

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for November 19, 2007 at 5:00 PM.

 

Mr. Coyne moved to adjourn the meeting.  Seconded by Ms. Rader-Harris.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:18 PM

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

__________________________ 

Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary 

Mohawk Valley Water Authority

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