Orange Water And Sewer Authority

The Board of Directors held a meeting where several organizational updates were provided, including announcements about potential conflicts of interest, the appointment of a new member, and reports on guiding principles and engineering projects. The Board approved a consent agenda covering financial reports, bylaw amendments regarding annual meeting dates, and the setting of public hearings for the budget and rate schedule. Additionally, the Board recognized students from the youth water academy and held a significant discussion regarding a proposed reimbursement policy for system development, including receiving stakeholder feedback on infrastructure costs, housing affordability, and policy implementation mechanics.

The board meeting focused on several key items, including a report on community feedback regarding recent flooding, presentations on current agency collaborations with local government and inter-agency working groups, and an announcement regarding the potential placement of emergency responder equipment on an elevated tank. Additionally, the board conducted a kickoff session for the budget season, discussing the budget development process, the capital improvements program, and the prioritization of future infrastructure projects.

The Board meeting served as a study work session focused on the authority's rate structure. Key discussion topics included an overview of general rate-setting guidelines and pricing strategies, the role of revenue targets in long-term financial planning, and a comparison of existing rate structures with peer utilities. Presentations were provided by the UNC School of Government Environmental Finance Center and Stantech consultants to assist in determining the scope and goals for a future comprehensive rate study.

The board addressed the sudden passing of a staff member, followed by an announcement regarding board diversity and inclusion training, and the introduction of a new executive assistant clerk. Staff provided an update on emergency preparations for severe winter weather. The board discussed potential locations and evaluation criteria for a new Clearwell project, considering factors such as cost, schedule, site constraints, and community impact. The board agreed to move certain items on the consent agenda to a future meeting and approved the remaining agenda items, including minutes from previous sessions.

The board discussed draft conditions for the siting of a new solid waste facility, including considerations for future land ownership and stakeholder engagement. A resolution was adopted to honor a retiring board member for his service. The board approved the annual schedule of rates, fees, and charges, the annual budget, the five-year capital improvement program, and updates to employee compensation and classification. Additionally, an update was provided regarding ongoing mass tort litigation concerning PFAS contamination and potential settlement funds for public entities.