Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors heard public criticism last week, being accused of making fraudulent statements, and for problems with the agency’s website.
David Evitt asked why AWA board meetings were cancelled in November and December. AWA Board President Gary Thomas said he cancelled the late November meeting for a lack of business, and the December meeting because they had no Bob Reed reports to discuss. Reed is conducting a study to partially consolidate rates across the entire water agency. “The meetings were cancelled to save the ratepayers money,” Thomas said: “Those were my words.”
Directors had discussed holding a special meeting Dec. 7 because past President, Director Don Cooper would be out of town Dec. 8, the regular meeting date. Cooper said that during discussion he preferred not deviating from the regular meeting dates solely because one director would be absent. Former AWA directors Debbie Dunn and Bill Condrashoff questioned the cancellations and the meeting’s draft minutes.
Vice President Paul Molinelli Senior said rather than try to reword the motion in the draft minutes they should see the actual motion. He said: “However, I might add, it’s much ado about nothing.” He said they should table the matter and make sure the minutes accurately reflect what the motion said.
Dunn criticized minutes of a “tolling” agreement with Sutter Creek, which appeared to indicate the AWA board voted in closed session. AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo recommended they refer the issue to agency counsel, and directors concurred on both actions.
In public comment, Condrashoff criticized a letter to the editor from Cooper in December that listed reasons and needs for the Gravity Supply Line in the Central Amador Water Project service area. Thornton Consolo said the letter was “fraudulent” in saying the GSL was needed. Consolo said it was valuable to the county and would add value, but was “not worth it.”
Condrashoff asked for a financial report that he said he requested during a Camanche rate meeting last year, and by email to Molinelli. Molinelli said the Budget & Finance committee felt that the full details of the document were not needed for their consideration, so staff was not requested to produce the document. Mancebo said AWA staff provided a lot on information to the budget & finance committee, which decided it did not need the more in-depth work, which takes more effort and costs more money to produce.
Cooper said they should agendize the issue so they can fully discuss it. Thomas said the committee decided they did not need it, and they should let the full board decide. Mancebo said the report is the “consolidated statement of revenue and expense.”
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
