Mohawk Valley Water Authority Minutes
February 16, 2016
Chairman DeLia called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
Present: Rocco Arcuri, Bruce Brodsky, Dennis Bova, Elis DeLia, Mark Ford, Mitch Ford, Eric Kane, Frank Mutolo. Absent: Vincent Coyne, Scott Mahardy, Bette Szesny and Scott Williams. Also Present: Richard Goodney, Phil Tangorra, Jim Korfonta, Anne Milograno and Ken Bobrow, Esq.
Chairman DeLia presided and Suzanne Harmon took the minutes.
Approval of the January 25, 2016 Minutes
Motion made by Mr. Bova to approve the minutes. Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Vote: (8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (4) Absent Motion Carried.
Election of Officers:
Mitch Ford moved to make a slate of nominations as presented: Elis DeLia for re-election to the Chairman position, Bruce Brodsky to the Vice Chairman position, Rocco Arcuri to the Treasurer position and Suzanne Harmon to the Secretary position. Seconded by: Frank Mutolo.
Resolution: Establishing the MVWA as “Lead Agency” Pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act Relative to the Pipe Bridge Project
The MVWA proposes to replace the South Bridge water line with a new 230 foot long Pipe Bridge across West Canada Creek, in the Town of Trenton and Russia. Pursuant to SEQRA, the Authority caused to be prepared Part 1 of an EAF dated 1/25/16, for the project. The EAF, having been reviewed by the Authority was deemed adequate. The project is an “Unlisted Action” and therefore coordinated SEQRA review is optional. No involved agency objected. The Authority now desires to establish itself Lead Agency with respect to the project in accordance with SEQRA regulations and to give notice of such establishment.
Motion made by Mr. Brodsky to approve the minutes. Seconded by: Mr. Mutolo
Vote: (8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (4) Absent Motion Carried.
Resolution: The MVWA issuing “Negative Declaration” Pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act Relative to the Pipe Bridge Project
The MVWA proposes to replace the South Bridge water line with a new 230 foot long Pipe Bridge across West Canada Creek in the Towns of Trenton and Russia. The EAF having been reviewed was deemed adequate. The Project is an “Unlisted Action”. The Authority now desires to make its determination of significance in accordance with the SEQRA Regulations at 6 NYCRR.
Motion was made by Mr. Arcuri to approve the resolution. Seconded by: Mr. Bova
Vote: (8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (4) Absent Motion Carried.
Committee Reports:
Finance: Mr. Korfonta stated that consumption and billings are up. Cash collection is higher than the prior year. The Auditor’s will be coming in within three weeks.
Executive Director’s Report:
- Mr. Becher stated that when the auditor came in last summer she began to look at the entire operation. She looked at the payroll records, accounts payable, receivables. ledger entries, inventory control and after one month stated that everything looked good to her. She came back in a few weeks and met with some of the MVWA engineers to take a look at water loss. When the report came out it stated that the purpose of the examination was to look at water loss, which was not the case. In regard to water loss, the MVWA has known that the system leaks quite a bit. In the report it included the time period from January 2014 through June 2015, which includes two winters. Therefore, there would be a lot more breaks in the winter than in the summer time. The system is very old and some pipes are more than 100 years old. With over 700 miles of pipe in the system if the Authority replaced hundreds of miles of pipe it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Unless the State or the Federal government wants to give the Authority $200 million dollars we will not be able to do that. It comes down to what this community can really afford and what’s reasonable and prudent for maintenance of the water system. This system is not different than any other urban system in upstate New York.
- Mr. Becher stated that the Authority is using new technology for leak detection and changing meters to more accurately record where water is going. The Authority is finding leaks as fast as they can and fixing them in a reasonable amount of time. The State’s recommendation was to keep doing what the Authority is doing. Also, Chairman DeLia stated that the Authority’s finances are in order.
Committee Reports:
- Mitch Ford stated that in regards to the spill at the Treatment Plant the anti-fluoride people in the community are going to the Utica Common Council meetings and Mr. Ford suggests that the Authority attends a meeting to educate them on this situation. Mr. Becher stated that he would follow-up.
- Mr. Goodney stated that under the Capital Improvement Program there is an Agreement between MVWA and GHD Consulting Services, Inc.:
GHD Consulting Services, Inc. and the MVWA entered into an Agreement dated April 24, 2015 to perform evaluation of the Water Treatment Plant’s residuals disposal (lagoon) system in response to the NYSDEC State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit renewal letter. The owner requested design of modifications to the WTP chemical unloading area and fluoride storage and feed system for improved spill containment. The owner requested characterization of the water and solids in Lagoon No. 1 due to a recent fluoride spill and evaluations of alternatives to remediate the impacts of the spill. NYSDEC has requested additional documentation and evaluation related to the SPDES permit renewal for the WTP Lagoons related to suspended solids.
The Engineer and Owner agree to amend the Agreement as follows:
- Chemical truck unloading pad and fluoride chemical feed system improvements, lagoon assessment (fluoride spill) and additional lagoon assessment (SPDES permit renewal).
- The period of services will be completed within 45 days of Authorization to proceed by owner.
- The above scope of services will be provided on an hourly basis at standard hourly billing rates plus reimbursable expenses, for an estimated fee of $71,500.00.
Motion was made by Mr. Arcuri to approve the resolution. Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky.
Vote: (8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (4) Absent Motion Carried.
Chairman DeLia asked for a motion at 5:26 PM to go into Executive Session to discuss to discuss a personnel matter.
Motion was made by Mr. Mutolo. Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Vote:(8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (4) Absent - Motion Carried.
Went into Executive Session at 5:35 PM
Motion was made by Mr. Mutolo to come out of Executive Session at 5:50 PM. Seconded by: Mr. Brodsky
Vote:(8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (4) Absent - Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary
Mohawk Valley Water Authority