Mohawk Valley Water Authority – September 17, 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,    Millicent Rader-Harris, A. Eugene Snyder, Bette Szesny and Frank Trevisani.  Absent: Nathaniel Price and Donald Ryan.  Joseph Hobika, Jr. arrived after roll call was taken.  Also present: Edward Earl, Mario Bequer, James Korfonta, Connie Schreppel, Dick Goodney and Donald Weimer.  Chairman Gaston presided and Suzanne Harmon took the minutes.

 

Approval of the August 20, 2007 Minutes:

Motion made by Mr. Snyder to approve the minutes as presented.  Seconded by: Mr. DeLia.

Ms. Rader-Harris asked to amend the minutes under Old Business to add another document “Dated June 2, 1998 from Ted Earl, Board Attorney.  Subject – Program for replacement of residential lead pipe service from curb box to water meter.  Section 1226f23 of the legislation creating the Water Board states that the Board has the power.”

Mr. Snyder asked to amend the minutes under Old Business to read “water bottles” not bottled water.

Motion made by Ms. Szesny to amend the minutes with two changes.  Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky.

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

 

Resolution:  Contract Award for Leak Detection Phase IV

The MVWA’s water supply permit requires the MVWA to implement a program to reduce water leakage from its water system.  The current phase of leak detection will include a survey of 225 miles of mains in the Low, High and High High service zones.  Request for Proposals was mailed to five firms of which three responded and the lowest bid in the amount of $17,550 is awarded to DSM Solutions.  The sum is hereby appropriated to the contract from the Capital Improvement Fund.

Motion was made by Mr. Coyne.  Seconded by Mr. DeLia. 

Vote:  (10) Ayes  (0) Nays   (2) Absent  (Mr. Price & Mr. Ryan)    Motion Carried.

 

Resolution:  Waiver of Minimum Pressure Standard for Residential Service Line Connection on Seavy Road, Town of Marcy

The MVWA in May 2002 adopted Standards for Water Service which was incorporated by such resolution into MVWA’s Rules and Regulations.  A homeowner at 6825 Seavy Road in the Town of Marcy has requested that the homeowner be allowed to tap an 8” main on Seavy Road for the purpose of installing a one-inch residential water service line to the homeowner’s residence.  The current static pressure in the 8” main on Seavy Road is approximately 25 psi.  The homeowner has demonstrated a hardship that justifies waiver of the minimum pressure standard.  The 35 psi minimum static pressure standard for residential service line connections to a water main within MVWA’s service area is waived for the residence at 6825 Seavy Road based on the circumstances described by the engineering staff.  The design of the proposed residential water service system and its associated holding tank and pump for the residence shall be reviewed and approved by the Board’s engineering staff prior to the connection of the residential service line to the 8” main on Seavy Road.

Motion made by Ms. Szesny.  Seconded by Mr. Brodsky.

Mr. DeLia would like the attached conditions in the “Description of the situation at 6825 Seavy Road, Marcy” become part of the Resolution.    

Mr. Hobika, Jr. requested the following amendment be added to the Resolution.  “The Resolution 2007-28 was approved on the condition that all installations will be at the homeowner’s expense and that they will enter into a Hold Harmless Agreement with the Mohawk Valley Water Authority and recorded in the County Clerk’s Office and referenced.

 

Motion made to amend the Resolution by Ms. Szesny.  Seconded by Mr. Brodsky.

Vote:  (9) Ayes  (0) Nays  (1) Abstain – Mr. Buchner   (2) Absent - Mr. Price & Mr. Ryan.  

Motion Carried.

 

Committee Reports:

Capital Projects:  Mr. DeLia stated that the committee met and just passed items 5 and 6 on the agenda and the third resolution will be brought up in Executive Session.     

Budget and Finance:  Mr. Brodsky stated that the committee met and discussed collections, the balance sheet and implications for monies that will never be collected.  Discussed the meter replacement program regarding replacing meters that are not working up to their capacity.  The committee reviewed a draft MVWA Property Disposition Policy, which will be brought to the Board shortly.  Monthly consumption was relatively consistent with the prior month.  A slight increase resulted.  Year-to-date the cash position continues to be positive.  The MVWA has not been billed for paving by the contractor yet this year and we are scheduled to make the annual retirement payment in December.  Therefore, we need to be cautious in spending habits.  Mr. Snyder would like to see a footnote on the unaccountable water in actual gallons put on the monthly report.        

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

Operations:  No report given.

 

Executive Director’s Report:

No report given.

 

Old Business:

Ms. Rader-Harris had three items:

• Mentioned her deposition regarding the lawsuit with the NYS Canal Corporation,  2) Passed around a document from when she was the capital improvements chairman regarding the lead pipe replacement program and  3)  Passed around pictures of Hinckley Reservoir taken on September 1, 2007 showing the low water levels in the reservoir.  Passed around a picture taken in 2000 of the Gray Dam.
• Mr. Snyder asked for an up-date on the waive frontage requirement for water service line for Mr. Ritzel and asked to keep the pressure on the DEC and the NYS Health Department. 
• A motion was made by Mr. Hobika, Jr.  Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky.

Mr. Becher write to New York State elected officials and ask them to intercede on behalf of  homeowner’s and the MVWA Board.

            Vote:  (10) Ayes  (0) Nays  (0) Abstain   (2) Absent - Mr. Price & Mr. Ryan.  

Motion Carried.

 

New Business:

• Mr. Brodsky had concerns about why the reservoir levels are so low.
• Mr. Trevisani handed out an article from the NY Times dated August 1, 2007 “In Praise of Tap Water”.  Eight glasses a day from bottled water could cost $1,400 annually.  The same amount of tap water would cost about 49 cents. 
• Mr. Snyder stated that the pictures that were passed around would not have changed even if Gray Reservoir was still in place.

 

Chairman Gaston moved to adjourn the meeting and go into Executive Session to discuss the real property appraisal on Toby Road.  Seconded by Mr. Trevisani.  The meeting was adjourned at 5:46 PM.

 

Ms. Rader-Harris left before Executive Session.

 

 

 Executive Session:   

The Board came out of Executive Session and the following Resolution was proposed.  That the Board hire Paul K. Hatzinger to prepare an appraisal of the Toby Road property needed for water purposes at the quoted professional fee of $1,250.00 and that the Board renew an offer for the property at the appraised price allowing the owner thereof 30 days to accept the offer and if not accepted that the Board commences eminent domain proceeding to acquire the property.

Motion made by Joseph Hobika, Jr.  Seconded by: Mr. DeLia.   

Vote:   (9) Ayes   (0) Nays   (3) Absent  (Mr. Price, Mr. Ryan and Ms. Rader-Harris)

Motion Carried.

 

Motion made by Ms. Szesny to adjourn the meeting.   Seconded by: Mr. Trevisani.

Vote:   (9) Ayes   (0) Nays   (3) Absent  (Mr. Price, Mr. Ryan and Ms. Rader-Harris)

Motion Carried.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 6:09 PM.

 

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2007 at 5:00 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

__________________________ 

Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary 

Mohawk Valley Water Authority