Jeff Bowers

The board meeting addressed several critical operational and financial matters. Key topics included the approval of a new job specification for an Instrumentation Technician Trainee, the abandonment of sewer infrastructure at a West Hartford property, and the authorization of a supplemental appropriation for the Wolcott Hill Road sewer project. The board also reviewed the closeout of various capital projects and discussed an adjustment to the 2026 ad valorem tax levy for the Town of Newington. Furthermore, the meeting covered ethics advisory board referrals regarding commissioner conflict of interest disclosure forms, an encroachment agreement for an irrigation project in Avon, and updates to the customer assistance program administered by Generation Power CT.

The Board agenda included the election of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, public comments, and discussion regarding 2026 commissioner disclosure forms, specifically addressing forms that were submitted late or not submitted at all. The document also details the previous meeting's proceedings, which involved the election of board leadership and the review of ethics and conflict of interest disclosure protocols.

The key discussions and potential actions for this meeting included the election of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. Major items for consideration involved an encroachment agreement for irrigation improvements at Farmington Woods related to the Nepaug Pipe Lines easement, potential action regarding an Operation Fuel agreement for customer assistance grants (updating the contracted company name to Generation Power CT), and consideration of a new Reserved Safe Yield Rate ordinance for water supply agreements. Additionally, reports were scheduled concerning a summary of water main breaks for January 2026 and a review of year-to-date water revenue for January 2026. There was also a discussion regarding passive recreation at Lake McDonough.

The Committee on Technology meeting agenda included the election of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. Key procedural items involved opportunities for public comments relative to agenda items and general public comments, as well as Commissioner requests for future agenda items. A subsequent section detailing the minutes of a previous meeting indicated that staff was directed to prepare a series of questions for REA Resource Recovery Systems and request that REA submit their own questions for the District.

This document outlines The Metropolitan District's strategic planning efforts, focusing on an Effective Utility Management (EUM) Self-Assessment for the 2026-2031 period. The plan aims to identify priority areas for focused improvement and is built upon four strategic focus areas: Workforce Development, Digital Excellence, Enterprise Resiliency, and Infrastructure Strategy & Performance. The intended outcomes include cultivating a skilled workforce, managing risks, delivering high-quality and reliable services through continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making, and ensuring long-term system reliability, financial viability, and regulatory compliance.