Amador County – An apparent discrepancy on the due date of a $1 million loan payment led to a flurry of e-mails between Amador Water Agency board members and staff, starting last Friday (May 14th). Board Vice President Debbie Dunn started the chain of events by asking about a due date on a payment for a bond that funded the Amador Transmission Pipeline project. 2 members of the board criticized Dunn for sending an email that apparently accused agency staff of “improper actions” by sending a copied page of the AWA staff handbook with portions of the text highlighted. Dunn on Thursday said “we have to make decisions based on great information” from Finance Manager Mike Lee. She said the due date for the loan payment apparently changed from May 30th to May 15th, making approval of a loan from the county under a short time limit. Directors Terence Moore and Gary Thomas both said it was clear to them that funds must be sent on May 15th to a bond trustee, then paid toward the debt by June 1st. Dunn said in looking at the agency’s finances with a calculator, she thought the agency could have had the funds to make the ATP bond payment by May 30th. Dunn said that date was changed by staff from the 30th to the 15th, and it changed the way she voted. Lee said the agency now has $470,000 in cash, which he called uncomfortably low, and that included the $900,000 loan from Amador County. Dunn said: “We ought to hand (the county) $200,000 today.” Dunn said she thought the board made a decision based on a wrong due date for the bond payment, and she sent the e-mail to General Manager Gene Mancebo asking for clarification, and attaching a page from the employee handbook. Moore told Dunn: “You actually accused staff of improper practices,” adding: “I think your whole e-mail exchange is possibly in violation of the Brown Act.” Thomas agreed, saying Dunn seemed to be attempting to fulfill one director’s goals.” President Bill Condrashoff called it “a misunderstanding that went 2 ways to the extreme.” Lee and Mancebo said future questions should be taken straight to Mancebo, who said he did handle the request to make the agenda item, but passed the bond payment due date question to Kronick, who sent a bond counsel’s comments on it to the whole board. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.-
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Amador County – An apparent discrepancy on the due date of a $1 million loan payment led to a flurry of e-mails between Amador Water Agency board members and staff, starting last Friday (May 14th). Board Vice President Debbie Dunn started the chain of events by asking about a due date on a payment for a bond that funded the Amador Transmission Pipeline project. 2 members of the board criticized Dunn for sending an email that apparently accused agency staff of “improper actions” by sending a copied page of the AWA staff handbook with portions of the text highlighted. Dunn on Thursday said “we have to make decisions based on great information” from Finance Manager Mike Lee. She said the due date for the loan payment apparently changed from May 30th to May 15th, making approval of a loan from the county under a short time limit. Directors Terence Moore and Gary Thomas both said it was clear to them that funds must be sent on May 15th to a bond trustee, then paid toward the debt by June 1st. Dunn said in looking at the agency’s finances with a calculator, she thought the agency could have had the funds to make the ATP bond payment by May 30th. Dunn said that date was changed by staff from the 30th to the 15th, and it changed the way she voted. Lee said the agency now has $470,000 in cash, which he called uncomfortably low, and that included the $900,000 loan from Amador County. Dunn said: “We ought to hand (the county) $200,000 today.” Dunn said she thought the board made a decision based on a wrong due date for the bond payment, and she sent the e-mail to General Manager Gene Mancebo asking for clarification, and attaching a page from the employee handbook. Moore told Dunn: “You actually accused staff of improper practices,” adding: “I think your whole e-mail exchange is possibly in violation of the Brown Act.” Thomas agreed, saying Dunn seemed to be attempting to fulfill one director’s goals.” President Bill Condrashoff called it “a misunderstanding that went 2 ways to the extreme.” Lee and Mancebo said future questions should be taken straight to Mancebo, who said he did handle the request to make the agenda item, but passed the bond payment due date question to Kronick, who sent a bond counsel’s comments on it to the whole board. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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