Mohawk Valley Water Authority Minutes
July,18 , 2016
Chairman DeLia called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call
Present: Rocco Arcuri, Denny Bova, Vincent Coyne, Elis DeLia, Eric Kane, Richard Karam, Frank Mutolo and Bette Szesny. Absent: Bruce Brodsky and Mark Ford. Also Present: Richard Goodney, Phil Tangorra, Anne Milograno, Scott Gorgas and Ken Bobrow, Esq.
The Board is down two members.
Chairman DeLia presided and Suzanne Harmon took the minutes.
Approval of the May 16, 2016 Minutes
Motion made by Ms. Szesny to approve the minutes. Seconded by: Mr. Coyne
Vote: (8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried.
Resolution: Award of Construction Contract for Fluoride Feed System Improvements at the WTP
The Board’s current Capital Improvement Plan calls for upgrades to the 24 year old Fluoride Bulk Storage and Feed System at the WTP. This project will ensure system reliability and mitigate the risk of a spill or other release. The general scope for this contract involves removal and replacement of the original feed system and the bulk chemical unloading, containment storage and transfer facilities. Bids were received from three general contractors of which DAKKSCO Corp. of Leicester, NY was low bidder in the amount of $259,944.00. DAKKSCO Corp. will complete the work under this contract by January 31, 2017.
Motion made by Mr. Coyne to approve. Seconded by: Mr. Bova
Vote: (8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried.
Resolution: Water Charges on County and City Owned Commercial and Residential Properties
Mr. Bobrow stated that this resolution replaces three resolutions that were voted on annually. Unpaid water fees, rates and charges pertaining to residential and commercial properties were levied as part of the City of Utica and the Counties of Oneida and Herkimer taxes and became liens upon these properties under the Second Class Cities Law and Public Authorities Law and for many of these properties such liens either remain unpaid or were foreclosed at County and City real estate tax sales. Water fees, rates and charges if not paid by the owner, occupant or tenant of real property when due, constitute a lien upon the owner’s property and a charge against the owner and any amount which remains due and unpaid may be levied as part of the County and City taxes on the property. MVWA wishes to reserve its right to collect the water charges as a contractual obligation of the persons who used the water or incurred the charges. The policies in this Resolution shall be applicable only if the City, County or Agency provides the MVWA in writing the names, addresses and principal if applicable, for any person entities who are purchasing the aforementioned properties twenty days prior to transfer. Any waiver granted by the Executive Director pursuant to this resolution shall only be applicable to properties sold to prospective buyers who are current on all accounts with MVWA.
Motion made by Ms. Szesny to approve. Seconded by: Mr. Mutolo
Vote: (8) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried.
Committee Reports
Finance: Mr. Gorgas stated that revenue is $185,000 higher than last year. Consumption is down very little compared to last year. Cash flow is almost exactly the same as what we take in and send out. About $1.2 million has gone out for the pipe bridge and pump stations.
The budget season has begun and the budget packets have been handed out to department heads. The draft budget will be ready for the Board at the end of August so they can be involved in the process. The rate hearing will be held in October
Executive Director’s Report
- Mr. Becher stated that the reservoir is about a foot higher than normal. The weekly telephone calls with the core agencies are discontinued at this point. The Mohawk Valley region is not in a drought.
- The Automated Meter Reading (AMI) conversion that the MVWA is in the process of doing is proceeding but the MVWA would like to accelerate it before we get into the winter. There are over 28,000 units installed at this point. We have a surplus in the Capital account that was created to fund this project. We are going to hire five temporary installers to help with the conversion of the modems on the outside of the house to speed up the project. Mr. Becher feels that in six months the MVWA will be at 98% conversion. That would allow the MVWA employees to work inside the house to change the meters.
- The bonding that the MVWA is undertaking that will pay for the Pipe Bridge project and misc. projects is well underway. The draft documents will be together over the next two weeks and will be seeking rating agencies probably by the end of July and perhaps close the second week of August.
- The REDC (Regional Economic Development Council) is set up in clusters of six counties around the State. Every year they award money to those in this region of 55 to 60 million dollars or so. They have told us in the past that the money if not for infra-structure but for economic development but the MVWA will be putting in an application for this year. O’Brien & Gere Engineering is going to help put this package together. The next leg of the raw water main project going from the Plant to the Reservoir is being done to increase the capacity and size of those lines in order to supply the Nano Center site. The MVWA feels that a project like this does underwrite thousands of jobs if the plant decides to relocate to this site. The MVWA feels it is a completely eligible project and one that the State should have a strong interest in seeing move forward.
Old Business
Mr. Coyne stated that he has proposed in the past that new Board members visit the Water Treatment Plant. At the last Capital Projects Committee meeting Mr. Goodney showed good graphics on where the pipes flow, the pipe bridges, the power plants and how the water flows down. Mr. Coyne feels that it would be informative to have a presentation to the Board.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:25 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
Suzanne M. Harmon, Secretary
Mohawk Valley Water Authority