Mohawk Valley Water Authority Minutes
September 15, 2025
Chairman DeLia called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM.
Chairman DeLia presided, and Amy Passacantando took the minutes.
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Board Members Present: Ronald Beach, Dennis Bova, Deborah Burke, Vincent Coyne, Elis DeLia, Dale Dodge, Mark Ford, Richard Karam, Frank Meola, and Jef Saunders
Absent: Bruce Brodsky, and Eugene Santa-Croce III
Also Present in Boardroom: Patrick Becher, Jim Korfonta, Phil Tangorra, Dan Faldzinski, Anne Milograno, Jim Mack, Sandra Dare, and Ken Bobrow Esq.
Approval of the July 21, 2025 Minutes:
Motion made by Mr. Ford to approve the Minutes. Seconded by: Mr. Bova
Vote: (9) Ayes (0) Nays (1) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried. Mr. Coyne abstained.
Resolution: Award of contract for Kemble St. Garage Door Replacement Project
Mr. Faldzinski stated that Mohawk Valley Water Association (MVWA) desires to replace the double fire doors at the Kemble Street Garage. MVWA advertised for bids, bidding and evaluation for this contract has been conducted in accordance with MVWA’s procurement policy. Two bids were received, with the lowest submitted by HR BeBee Construction, of Utica, New York in the amount of $29,700.00.
Motion made by Mr. Saunders to approve the Resolution. Seconded by: Mr. Beach
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Resolution: MVWA Application to NYS EFC for Grant Funding (WIIA/Ph 1B)
Mr. Faldzinski said Mohawk Valley Water Authority (hereinafter the “Authority”) proposes to undertake the construction of a new transmission main that will provide 3 million gallons per day of water from the existing transmission line located on North Genesee Street, in the City of Utica to the point of beginning for the Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency’s Phase 1A Project at the intersection of Windfall Road and Herkimer Road, in the Town of Schuyler, located in both Oneida and Herkimer Counties, New York (hereinafter the “Project”). The proposed project cost will be $20,634,100 including legal, survey, design, construction and all related project costs. MVWA has completed the State Environmental Quality Review Act process for the Project, issuing a negative declaration on May 20, 2024. Upon the receipt of sufficient grant funding and finalized agreements between local municipalities and MVWA as part of the Eastern Mohawk Valley Regional Transmission Main Project - Phase 1a, the MVWA hereby authorizes Construction of the Project at a total Project Cost of $20,634,100, including Legal, Survey, Design, Construction and all related Project Costs.
Mr. Becher added that this resolution today is authorizing MVWA to make applications for grant money with the EFC. This is not a commitment to proceed with the project.
Motion made by Mr. Beach to approve the Resolution. Seconded by: Mr. Meola
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Resolution and MOA: New Title to be added to the Teamsters Bargaining Unit
Mrs. Dare stated that Article II of the Collective Bargaining Unit defines the bargaining unit and the specific position titles included in the unit as well as the corresponding salaries are listed in Appendix “A” and Article V Section 1 sets the regular workweek for each title in the bargaining unit the Local Union 294 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (“Teamsters”) would like to add position title of Automotive Mechanic Helper to the bargaining unit. The Teamsters and MVWA desire to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement outlining the above.
Motion made by Mr. Karam to approve the Resolution. Seconded by: Mr. Bova
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Approval: LSLR Project -Zero-interest financing offered by EFC
Mr. Becher explained that we have received approximately $8.9 million in grant money from the state of New York for the lead service line replacement project. The award letter came last December that said we were eligible for the grant and a 0% interest loan. We chose the grant and started the work. This offer is for the grant and the loan (unless MVWA has matching funds on hand). MVWA believes that when the new regulations come out, the most that would change is that they may extend the timetable a little bit to 12-15 years. Most likely we will still be required to rip out all the lead service pipes of which we think there are 4-6 thousand. MVWA is trying to apply for and receive as many grants as possible. The zero percent interest loan must be accepted in conjunction with the grant money. No payment will be due until 2027, and this will help with the LSLR project. This board will need to approve the request to accept the grant and zero percent loan and then this memo will be forwarded to the Water Finance Authority to submit the request for the loan. A call has been made to our bond counsel to start the process.
Motion made by Mr. Meola to approve the financing. Seconded by: Mr. Ford
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Approval: Updated Strategic Plan
Mr. Becher stated that MVWA has updated the Strategic Plan. This consisted of 10 sessions with every employee attending at least one session. They were able to hear the plan and offer any ideas/suggestions they might have. Mr. Becher thanked the board members that attended, Mr. Bova, Mr. Karam, Mr. Beach, and Mr. Brodsky. Some objectives and strategy language was removed, and also some updates and new language were added. MVWA is asking the Board to approve the updated strategic plan.
Motion made by Mr. Karam to approve the strategic plan. Seconded by: Mr. Beach
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Reaffirmation of HR Policies
The policies below have been reaffirmed and have no changes made to them.
• Cancer screening policy
• Employee travel policy
• Pregnant workers’ fairness act policy
Motion made by Mr. Meola to reaffirm the HR policies. Seconded by: Mr. Karam
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Reaffirmation of IT Policies
The policies below have been reaffirmed and have no changes made to them.
• Mobile Device Policy
• Remote Access Policy
• Network Infrastructure Security Policy
Motion made by Mr. Bova to reaffirm the IT policies. Seconded by: Mr. Ford
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Reaffirmation of IT Policy
The Information Security Policy had minor changes made to it.
Motion made by Mr. Dodge to reaffirm the IT policy. Seconded by: Mr. Karam
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Committee Reports:
July Finance Report
Mr. Korfonta stated that, for any board member that did not attend the budget workshop prior to the board meeting, he has left a packet of information on their binder regarding the budget and rate increase of 2% for 2026.
Mr. Korfonta continued to the July finance report and stated that consumption overall YTD is comparable with last year and continuing the same into August. Water sales for the month of July are at $15.9 million; that’s $250 thousand above the budget and $882 thousand above the prior year. Cash flow was positive for July.
Executive Director’s Report:
Mr. Becher stated that the reservoir is about 8 1/2‘ below normal. This morning the inflow was all the way down to about 61 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is very slow for the West Canada Creek. Both the elevation trigger and the 30-day running average inflow trigger have been hit which means that, under the agreement we have with the state, we had to enact what’s called enhanced protocol for communication. This includes MVWA, Canal Corp, the Power Authority, DEC and the Health Dept. The Power Authority did reduce the outflow from 300 cfs to 200 cfs beginning last Wednesday and this is about the least amount they can release since they are required by the DEC law to maintain 160 cfs going down the West Canada Creek below the dam for the trout habitiat. Right now, they are diverting about 40 cfs down the Nile Mile Feeder for navigation.
Old Business:
New Business:
Mr. Becher said that talks are continuing on the Eastern Transmission Pipeline Project. Mr. Becher stated that work will need to be done on MVWA’s side, possibly as much as $20 million. We have been using an engineering firm in the past to submit applications for various funding, and we will also be seeking congressional direct spending. Every member of the House and every member of the US Senate is given an amount of money that they can divide up and fund what projects they deem worthy. MVWA would like to apply again this year, and the name of a person has come up with whom Mr. Faldzinski has worked with previously. This person not only submits the grant application but also does follow up by making phone calls and getting in front of these representatives. MVWA is seeking approval to hire this person to assist in the grant writing process.
Motion made by Mr. Bova to approve this grant writer. Seconded by: Mr. Ford
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried
Executive Session:
Chairman DeLia asked for a motion to go into Executive Session at 5:38PM to discuss potential expansion.
Motion made by Mr. Beach to go into Executive Session. Seconded by Mr. Karam.
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried.
Went into executive session at 5:40pm.
Motion made to come out of Executive Session by Mr. Beach. Seconded by Mr. Saunders.
Vote: (10) Ayes (0) Nays (0) Abstain (2) Absent Motion Carried.
Came out of Executive Session at 5:59PM.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:59pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Passacantando, Secretary
Mohawk Valley Water Authority