Niagara Falls Water Board

The meeting packet details the agenda for the Annual Business Meeting, covering financial reports including bank account and investment fund balances, personnel actions regarding hiring and promotions, and departmental updates on operations and maintenance for water and wastewater treatment. Key resolutions discussed include the election of officers and committee chairpersons, acceptance of a proposal for a wastewater treatment plant hydraulic study, and acceptance of a proposal for uninterruptible power supply replacements. Engineering updates include reports on infrastructure projects, consent order status, and stormwater management programs.

The meeting addressed several operational and administrative matters. Key discussions included an update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Preliminary Engineering Report (PER), where the Board requested a future presentation by Hazen and Sawyer. Financial matters noted difficulties with 2025 bank reconciliations, delaying the auditors' on-site work until April, while progress continues on implementing the Tyler Technologies online payment system. Administrative services involved approving personnel actions, including the authorization to hire a CDT Team Leader and the appointment of an individual to Foreman. Engineering updates indicated ongoing work on annual reports for the Mercury Minimization Plan and Pollutant Minimization Plan, noting two permit violations for alpha-BHC. The Board also discussed the evaluation of a cast iron pipe at the WWTP. Outside infrastructure saw a decrease in water main breaks but an increase in frozen service lines due to cold weather, with future summer work scheduled for water main replacement and a sewer rehabilitation project. IT and OT reported progress on deploying new switches, upgrading UPS units, and testing new SCADA software. The Board approved several resolutions, including the procurement of a Gas Chromatograph for Haloacetic Acid Analysis, the renewal of Neptune 360 Meter Data Management services for three years, and the award of a bid for an Emergency Repair Contract, along with two change orders for a sanitary sewer replacement project.

The Business Meeting agenda for February 23, 2026, included several key items. Financial reports to be reviewed covered bank accounts, invested funds, and the Wilmington Trust account. Personnel actions for February 23, 2026, were listed. Operational reports covered January 2026 data for Operations and Maintenance, including water production, wastewater data, and capital projects such as sedimentation basins, belt filter press improvements, and the Sodium Hypochlorite Tank Replacement. Resolutions on the agenda included the procurement of a Gas Chromatograph for Haloacetic Acid analysis, renewal of Neptune 360 meter data management services, and the award of a bid for an Emergency Repair Contract. Change orders related to JR Swanson contracts for sewer replacement projects were also scheduled for review. The package also included reports on laboratory analysis and industrial pretreatment enforcement activities.

The meeting commenced with the welcoming of a new Board member, Daniel Weiss. Discussions included correspondence items and the approval of prior meeting minutes from December 15, 2025. Key operational updates covered the receipt of a $5 million WIIA grant designated for hydrant, large valve, and water main replacements, as well as WTP SCADA upgrades. The Board reviewed the necessity to upgrade the tracking software for the Cross Connection Inspector to BSI Online, which includes a new fee structure for plumbers. Finance items reviewed reports on bank balances and the analysis of 2024 tax transfers related to unpaid water bills, noting a substantial drop in amounts transferred in 2025 after service disconnections were reinstated. Personnel actions approved included hiring a Compliance Officer/Industrial Waste Inspector and granting permanent Civil Service status to a Senior Administrative Assistant. Engineering updates mentioned ongoing WWTP upgrade reports and the submission of the 2025 combined sewer overflow report. Resolutions approved involved awarding the bid for the West Rivershore Drive water main replacement, amending an Order on Consent, approving repairs for WWTP air scour piping, renewing Lucity software support, approving payment for an emergency sewer repair, approving maintenance agreements for WTP generators, extending environmental monitoring services with AECOM, and updating authorized bank account signers.

The agenda for the business meeting covers several operational and financial matters. Key resolutions include awarding bids for the West Rivershore Drive Water Main Replacement and emergency repair to a collapsed 15-inch combined sewer main on 24th Street and Seneca Avenue. Other resolutions address renewing software support and maintenance for Lucity, approving preventative maintenance agreements for WTP generators, extending the agreement with AECOM for environmental monitor services, and updating authorized bank account signers. The agenda also includes reports on finance, personnel actions, outside infrastructure updates, and information technology matters. A previous business meeting from December 15, 2025, minutes are listed for review, and there is an anticipated Executive Session to discuss personnel matters, specifically including the termination of the Director of Financial Services and the appointment of a replacement.