Amador County – The Amador Water Agency last week approved a tentative internal reorganization of the agency, but also said that rate increases are needed and will be forthcoming.

General Manager Gene Mancebo said the savings will be realized over three years, including $232,000 the first year, $428,000 the second, and $450,000 the third, for $1.1 million in overall reductions.

The reorganization would eliminate a human resources technician position and create a human resources and risk position from the human resources coordinator position.

An information systems manager position would be eliminated, Mancebo said, and the duties would either be distributed to other employees in the agency, or handled by contract.

Mancebo said the plan also called for elimination of the finance manager position, with finance duties taken over by the controller. The position of customer service manager would be taken over by an Office Manager, who would oversee the controller, accountants and customer service reps.

Three departments of construction, operations and engineering, each now headed by managers, would be consolidated into one department, under a Field Operations Manager, with two administrative assistants. Six divisions under separate leaders, include the largest division, under the Canal and Distribution Supervisor, who would oversee 5 distribution, 2 utility, 1 construction and 1 inspection technicians.

There would also be a Construction Foreman over utility techs, and a Supervising Engineer, over an assistant engineer and a tech. A Water Production Supervisor would oversee three operators, a Wastewater Supervisor would have three operators, and an Installation and Electrical Supervisor would oversee two techs.

Mancebo recommended approval, due to the current economy, the “lack of rate increases in some systems during the past five years, increased operation costs and the overall agency financial condition.” The agency identified a $750,000 shortfall, which it discussed two weeks ago, when four of the five members voted 4-0 to approve the draft reorganization plan, and have the board’s specially assigned Ad Hoc Committee look it over, along with comments from the public and employees.

Past AWA President Bill Condrashoff last week said a change in makeup of the Ad Hoc Committee may be a violation of the Brown Act, and they should be leery of actions that the committee takes. Director Paul Molinelli replaced Director Robert Manassero on the Ad Hoc Committee because Manassero was on vacation last week. Molinelli said it may be questionable, but it “doesn’t change the numbers.”

AWA President Don Cooper was aware of the vacation plans, which was why he called the special meeting two weeks ago. Cooper said “this is a critical element for out budget to move forward.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.