John M. Catanzaro

The board meeting focused on several key areas, including an executive session regarding real property, review of financial and investment reports, and the status of various RFPs and projects. Significant actions included awarding multiple contracts for infrastructure restoration, pump station rehabilitation, water service investigations, lead service replacements, and transmission main work. Additionally, the board approved several professional services agreements for engineering, rate consulting, and labor relations, authorized amendments to existing contracts and the annual capital budget, ratified water infrastructure installations, and addressed administrative items such as policy updates, conference travel authorizations, and reporting requirements.

The Erie County Water Authority's Comprehensive Strategic Plan serves as a roadmap for its significant priorities over the next twenty years. It aims to provide safe, high-quality, and affordable drinking water through a reliable infrastructure, guided by overarching goals of Expansion, Redundancy, Automation/Cyber Security, and Investment. The plan is structured around seven strategic initiatives focusing on: Resiliency of Infrastructure and Assets, Water Quality, Expanding ECWA's Regional Presence, Promoting Technology, Enhancing Customer Service, Employee Focus, and Emergency Preparedness. The plan seeks to ensure operational excellence, regional leadership, technological advancement, and strong community engagement.

The report details master purchase order releases for various items and services. These include safety shoes, auto and truck repairs, geographic information system consultant services, caustic soda, water main materials, natural gas, parking, power purchases, telecommunications services, tablets and laptops, cellular phone service, electrical substation services, professional services, unemployment insurance, gasoline, electricity, rent payments, storage tank inspections, pest and rodent control, gas detector maintenance, locksmith services, electrical glove testing, first aid refills, carbon dioxide, auto parts, and vending services.

The Erie County Water Authority's meeting included discussions and actions related to budget amendments and contract modifications. A key item was the authorization to amend the annual capital budget for the fiscal year 2019 to re-allocate funds for an air compressor initially budgeted in 2018. Due to a delay in the contract award, the compressor's purchase and delivery could not be completed in 2018, necessitating the budget transfer. The funds were re-allocated from the Sludge Plant Study to the Air Compressor project within department 1015.

The meeting addressed various financial and operational matters, including the approval of master purchase orders and amendments, authorization to enter into a professional services contract with Lawley Service, Inc. for risk management and insurance broker services, and authorization to advertise for bids for Sturgeon Point WTP sludge removal, disposal, and relocation. Additionally, the board approved a leak allowance request, amended the annual O&M budget for fiscal year 2019 to fund a Sr. Production Engineer and an additional Account Clerk position, and amended the annual capital budget for fiscal year 2019 to cover necessary projects and overrun costs. The creation of a Chief Financial Officer position and the adoption of a new organizational chart were also approved, along with the appointment of Karen A. Prendergast as Chief Financial Officer and Joyce A. Tomaka as Temporary Comptroller. The salary grades for the positions of Secretary and Attorney were amended, and a leave of absence was granted to Michael Lee, Diesel Generator Mechanic.