Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-9-11 - Supervisor Richard Forster sits down with Tom Slivick to discuss the agenda for the upcoming board of supervisors meeting.

Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board in a special meeting Thursday tentatively approved an employee reorganization plan that would lay off three people in efforts to reduce the agency budget by nearly three-quarters of a million dollars.

Employees and the public will have until the close of business today to submit comments on the draft reorganization plan. An ad hoc committee of Director Paul Molinelli and President Don Cooper will review comments, and could adjust the plan as needed. It will then be considered for possible final approval in a special meeting 9 a.m. Friday (May 13).

Cooper said protests have stopped rate increases in the Central Amador Water Project, LaMel and Camanche service areas, and “a reduction in water sales has heavily affected the bottom line.” He said the board has “a fiscal responsibility here” and if they finally adopt the reorganization, they will have a lot of expenses in the first year paying severances, but “we’ve got to start somewhere.” He said the plan should be finalized to be used as they start work on the 2011-2012 budget in a workshop set for May 25th. Cooper said the draft plan “is a critical element for our budget to move forward.”

Director Robert Manassero said the change was not sudden, and Finance Committee work has been “scary.” He said Proposition 218 protests “killed rate increases” that should have been in place, and “now we’re playing catch-up.” He invited comment, saying: “If we can tweak something here that we haven’t seen, we’ll look at it.”

Molinelli said: “Failure is not an option, but it is a possibility.” Director Art Toy agreed, saying they “need $1 million to come out of the agency budget” or they will be headed for bankruptcy. They cannot cut field staff, and cannot raise rates, so the only thing they can do is eliminate management. Toy said he would “like people to make suggestions for what we can do to make it run right.” And “if there’s a better idea, we sure want to hear it.” He said: “I’ve never run a water agency before,” and staff “knows how to do it better than I do.”

AWA Controller Marvin Davis said in three months at the agency, he has not had the time to “drill down” into finances, but he was “not convinced the gap is that big.” He said the agency could merge metered systems to a single rate structure, and that should be reviewed across all systems. He said he would eventually “like to tear it apart.”

Mancebo said of the reorganization, “we know this alone is not going to fill the gap,” and the agency also must address employee concessions, and increase revenue.

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Amador County – California for the seventh year in a row ranked last among all states in terms of how they are seen as home to businesses.

“Chief Executive” magazine last week released results its annual survey of 550 company Chief Executive Officers, who considered “taxation and regulation to workforce quality and living environment.” J.P. Donlon, executive editor of “Chief Executive” in a May 3 article, “Best/Worst States for Business” said the annual ranking shows “how each state fares on the factors most essential for a business-friendly environment.”

Texas ranked Number 1, according to the survey, and California, “to no one’s great surprise” ranked the worst, 50th out of 50, Donlon said. Both states have held those respective rankings seven years straight.

California, “once a business friendly state, continues to conduct a war on its own economy,” Donlon wrote. “According to the Pacific Research Institute, it has the fourth largest government of all U.S. states, with spending equal to 18.3%” of its Gross Domestic Product. (In Texas, that number is 12.1%). Survey respondents uniformly said California regulators are hostile,” including one California CEO, who said: “No one in his right mind would start a new manufacturing concern here.”

California “seems uniquely oblivious to the effect its labor and other regulations are having on its innovative and growth-oriented Silicon Valley,” Donlon said. “Job growth in the Valley has flat-lined. Firms keep their headquarters there, but pursue growth in friendlier states. Google, Intel, Cisco and other companies locate new plants in states such as Arizona, Utah, Texas, Virginia or North Dakota.”

“Sacramento seems to take perverse delight in job-killing legislation,” Donlon said, such as the “Green Chemistry Initiative” of 2008, which mandated that “manufacturers seek safer alternatives to toxic chemicals in their products, and create tough governmental responses for lack of compliance.”

Chapman University Law professor Hugh Hewitt, in the Washington Examiner, wrote: “Take whatever you think is the worst regulatory regime out there, and expand it exponentially.” He said “California’s new rules will mandate testing and labeling changes on tens of thousands of products, likely triggering product recalls.”

Donlon said according to the Small Business Roundtable, the California carbon emission law (AB 32) will costs the state 500,000 jobs in 2011, and 1.3 million jobs by 2020.

One CEO responding to the survey said: “We need some political backbone to control spending, address out-of-control debts, and use common sense on environment … Quit demonizing businesses. Who do they think provide real jobs?”

Source: ChiefExecutive.net.

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Amador County – Amador Water Agency General Manager Gene Mancebo explained a draft employee reorganization plan last week, saying it would cut department heads, reassign jobs and duties, open some positions, and in total eliminate three positions. It was expected to cut $200,000 to $500,000 over two or three years.

The plan would remove five division managers and place a field operations manager over construction, distribution, installation, wastewater, water and engineering supervisors and departments. An office manager would head customer service and controlling divisions. Employees spoke to the AWA Board of Directors last week about the plan.

Engineering Supervisor John Griffin said the board may not have factored in $600,000 in new revenue in an agreement with Sutter Creek. There are grants that have not been applied for, and besides Fresh & Easy, there are 6 other vacant parcels on Sutter Hill.

Griffin read a list of 11 undone agency projects, including regulations; water plans; and bridge rebuild projects in Amador City and Sutter Creek. Three engineers cannot do all the work now, and two engineers would not be able to do it either, he said, and “we desperately need the Gravity Supply Line.”

Director of information technology Mitch Netto said companies he has worked for in the past have never had something like this. He called the plan “crass and very unprofessional,” and criticized management, saying the job had become horribly stressful, with threats from the administration. Netto said AWA’s technology network is ailing, with switches constantly failing, and not replaced because his program was typically under-budgeted “by 10s of thousands of dollars.”

Finance Manager Mike Lee said he has “enjoyed working here 11 years” and up until one or two years ago it had been a great place to work. He said the economy changed AWA, as it had water agencies all up and down the state. Lee said “our organizational structure is sound.” He said department heads and the general manager reorganized the agency about three years ago, and “we implemented about half of it last year.” He said the draft reorganization “does not really stand up to the hierarchy of any other water agency within 100 miles.” He said it will save money but it will not lead to a cohesive agency and will leave the financial side in chaos.

Mancebo said he thought a lot of what they heard was about sustainability, which is the real issue, and “failure is not an option,” because the agency provides water and wastewater services for this community. Mancebo said: “It is my recommendation that we do go forward with this,” though “it puts us in a precarious position with some activities.”

The draft reorganization plan’s final version could be considered by the AWA board 9 a.m. Friday (May 13).

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Amador County – Amador County and state officials honored George Cusak for 7 ½ years of volunteer service in establishing the Amador Auxiliary Communications Service Plan.

Sheriff Martin Ryan offered “personal thanks” to George for his work in the area of emergency service, and for his work in establishing and training volunteers for disaster communications, for helping in responses.

Bill Pennington, assistant chief of communications at the California Emergency Management Agency, said “Amador County’s Auxiliary Communications Service plan is on our website as an example.” He wished Cusak the best.

Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said “thank you very much for what you have done.” Supervisor Brian Oneto, agreed, saying that communications are very critical in emergencies.

The Amador County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution honoring Cusak. It said Amador ACS is made up of volunteer Disaster Service Workers who work with the Amador County Sheriff’s Office “to provide auxiliary communications support and services to Amador County government agencies,” in the event of disaster or communications emergency.

The resolution said Cusak was ACS Officer for 7 ½ years, and provided “volunteer amateur radio operators skilled in radio emergency communications, operations of conventional land-mobile radio, phone and the Road Runner Portable Advisory system.” He also coordinated communication tests with and between Sutter Amador Hospital, Amador Unified School District, American Red Cross, shelters and the County Emergency Operations Center.

Plasse, in reading the presentation Resolution, said “George was instrumental in establishing the first Auxiliary Communications Service Plan for Amador County which is used as a model plan by the Cal-EMA for other jurisdictions to emulate and has represented amateur radio interests at state level meetings.” Cusak also established a fully equipped government communications trailer, and has coordinated monthly ham radio-to-radio tests with surrounding counties.

Plasse, reading the resolution, said Cusak’s “contributions have been invaluable to the county in disaster preparedness operations and he exemplifies the spirit and expertise volunteers can bring to Amador County.”

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency discussed recent informational meetings about the Gravity Supply Line last week, and took criticism, while some of the opponents explained why they were getting involved.

Sherry Curtis said she heard comments from people asking “why are they doing this? Why are they not being concerned about their own district?” She said non-Upcountry residents seemed to be using the meetings to communicate their own information and “influence the people up there.” Curtis said: “What are they concerned about? They don’t pay our rate. What standing do you really have?”

Ken Berry said he only visited a few homes in the Prop 218 drive, but 95 percent of them signed the petition when they found out he was trying to stop the rate increase. Director Paul Molinelli Senior said “95 percent of the people voted against the 218 rate increase, but that does not mean they are against the Gravity Supply Line.”

Curtis said they “interjected confusion,” when AWA should be giving out information about the project. Berry said he attended the meetings because “this is America, the land of the free and I have the right to go anywhere.” He said the Central Amador Water Project owes money to the Amador Water System, and “instead of paying back the money you owe, you are going into debt on a new project.”

Debbie Dunn said the GSL “will affect my life,” by affecting the value of her homes in Pine Acres and on Mount Zion Road. Dunn said Mancebo and Supervisor Ted Novelli had spoken in support of consolidation. She said, “well, you’ve just reeled in all of the Amador Water System.”

Director Paul Molinelli said as a Jackson resident, it does rankle him when a non-resident speaks at the City Council meeting. Thornton Consolo of Jackson said there was a “certain amount of apathy at these meetings,” and people don’t understand how the cost affects other districts.

AWA Board President Don Cooper said the agency is evaluating the concepts of consolidation, or forming an assessment district, and “all of us need to get a little more creative to meet the customers’ needs.”

Debbie Dunn said the GSL was “a water supply for 7,000 more houses to be built,” and the coffee shop meetings were “not about gravity and not about education,” it’s “all about the bad economy and saddling a huge debt on a small group of people.” Dunn said they should get “unanimous agreement from those wholesalers to take on this debt,” or a “ballot with all 3,500 ratepayers.”

Dunn criticized an early survey sample that showed 80 percent support of the GSL. Cooper said it was a small sample, and more surveys showed about 65 percent support.

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors last week gave a debriefing of recent Gravity Supply Line committee meetings in the Upcountry.

President Don Cooper said he appreciated attendees, which included members of a group that spearheaded a Proposition 218 protest of a rate increase last year in the Central Amador Water Project service area. He said people “were telling us the same things,” that they don’t want to pay more. But they also were concerned with improving safety and system reliability.

Preliminary surveys showed 35 people supported the GSL, and 19 did not, Cooper said. “Customers don’t want a rate increase,” but the agency continually needs to educate them that costs continue to rise, and the state is not backing up on its requirements. He said “we need a rate increase to reflect inflationary costs,” and “if we don’t it’s going to get very ugly for this agency.”

Director Robert Manassero said there was a lot of negativity at the beginning, but it eased up as meetings progressed. “The average guy does not care about where water comes from,” he said. “Average people don’t want to pay more for anything, whether it’s insurance or gasoline or water.”

Manassero said CAWP, with old 1960s and 1970s infrastructure and small pipes, could benefit from a couple of fast connectors along the pipeline, where fire fighter water tenders can be filled. He said: “I think all of us need to pay toward the future of the county, and maybe for that system, the future will be next week.” He thanked GSL opponents for attending, and said “your opinion is like any other in America. It’s different from mine, but I’ll listen to it.”

Director Gary Thomas said the GSL is needed and they need to pay for it. Director Paul Molinelli agreed, saying “it is still a good project.”

In public comment, Sherry Curtis said she liked to hear all sides to an issue, but the group that spearheaded the Proposition 218 protest attended and seemed to ask questions that confused the issue, especially at the Mace Meadow meeting. She said they seemed to be trying to “influence the people up there.”

Ken Berry said he thought he was helping by speaking up during the Mace Meadow meeting. He said: “I didn’t exactly speak in favor of the Gravity Supply Line,” but “I thought I filled in information.”

Berry said “everybody in the world believes the GSL is a good idea,” but paying for it is the problem. Bill Condrashoff disagreed, saying not everybody agrees with the gravity feed being a good idea and just needing funding. He said “it’s about making it cost-effective.”

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Amador County – The Amador Water Agency this morning (Friday, May 6th) approved a draft employee reorganization plan that would lay off three employees, restructure management and cut between up to $500,000 from the budget.

The draft plan was approved, with another meeting set for 9 a.m. Friday, May 13th to consider final approval. The board also set its ad hoc reorganization committee to consider public and employee comments about the reorganization, and set a time limit by which comments must be submitted. Comments must be submitted by close of business Monday, May 9th.

The board also changed the makeup of the ad hoc reorganization committee, because Director Robert Manassero will be out of town next week. Director Paul Molinelli took Manassero’s position on the ad hoc committee, with Board President Don Cooper, and the two will consider all comments before the Friday meeting.

AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo introduced the reorganization plan, saying the “economic depression is continuing to affect the agency,” and fiscal impacts have led staff to identify that $750,000 has to be made up in the coming budget year. The agency could cut and slash everything in the budget, or do a combination of reorganization with elimination of three total positions, and reassignment of duties, he said. The plan included eliminating department heads, installing an office manager and reassigning duties, such as information technology, to either other employees, or contracters. Mancebo said the agency would also have to consider cutting employee concessions, and trying to increase revenue. He said benefits from the cuts may not fully be seen for two or three years.

In public comment, Finance Manager Mike Lee said with this reduction, the agency would have made a 30% reduction in staff, and cut “well over $1 million dollars in staff.” Lee said “more than half of the AWA customers have not seen a rate increase in more than five years.”

Lee said “our organizational structure is sound,” and was reorganized three years ago, though only half the cuts had been made. He said if department heads and the General Manager cannot do the correct reorganization, then an outside consultant cannot do it.

Lee said the “AWA needs a finance manger,” even if it was not him, and “the last thing this agency needs is an office manager.” He called the position “comical,” and said the “financial side is going to be put into chaos.”

Directors noted that Proposition 218 protests had stopped rate increases in the last few years at La Mel Heights, Camanche, and Central Amador Water Project service areas. They voted 4-0 to approve the draft plan, to be considered for final approval next Friday.

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Amador County – Amador Farmers’ Market will celebrate its 18th season this year when it opens the week of May 22 in Jackson, and then with localized opening dates for Farmers’ Markets to follow later in the season in Sutter Creek, Pine Grove and Plymouth.

Michelle Grondin announced the “Eighteenth Season” of the Amador Farmers’ Market is fast approaching, and the Market Association Board of Directors held a meeting April 4th at the Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium to welcome new directors Robert Renfro Senior, and Mary Culver, both residents of Sutter Creek.

Grondin said “Renfro is a farmer who joined the market last season, and Culver is a long-time customer who was named to the board to represent customer views.” The Board of Directors meeting included discussion of localized market opening dates and this year’s special events.

The Amador Farmers’ Market’s 2011 season begins Sunday, May 22 in Jackson. Other local market opening dates are Saturday, June 11 in Sutter Creek; Wednesday, June 15 in Pine Grove; and Thursday, August 4 in Plymouth. Grondin said “opening days with any luck will signal the start of spring for our area.” Operational hours and days vary by location.

Jackson Farmers’ Market is held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Sunday, beginning May 22 at the Busi Municipal Parking lot on Highway 49, behind Mel & Faye’s Diner in Jackson. Site Coordinator is Sean Kriletich.

Sutter Creek Farmers’ Market is held 8-11 a.m. Saturdays at the Eureka Street Parking Lot starting June 11. Site Coordinator is Greg Motch.

Pine Grove Farmer’s Market is held 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays at the Pine Grove Community Park, starting June 15. Site Coordinator is Michelle Grondin.

Plymouth Farmers’ Market is held 4-7 p.m. Thursdays from Aug. 5 to Sept. 30 at McGee Park on Main Street in Plymouth. Site coordinator is Michelle Grondin.

For market information, contact the market manager at (209) 419-2503.

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Amador County News, TSPN TV News Video, 5-6-11 - TSPN's Tom Slivick speaks with Amador Air District Officer Mike Boitano.