Tom
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:21
AWA's Dunn criticizes story on her daily expenses
Amador County – Amador Water Agency board Vice President Debbie Dunn this week criticized newspaper coverage of her expenses since taking office in December 2008, saying one piece had factual errors. The Ledger Dispatch received copies of board expense accounts, and noted that Dunn was getting 10 daily stipends a month, when the board had acted to reduce board expenses to 7.5 stipends a month. Dunn in a letter to the editor reprinted on Amador Community News online said comments in the story were from a “disgruntled employee.” AWA Board Clerk Cris Thompson said Dunn in a newspaper article called her a disgruntled employee. Thompson said she simply asked the board president to sign off on Dunn’s expenses because they exceeded the budget that the board adopted for itself, giving AWA board members the equivalent of 7.5 reimbursable workdays a month. Thompson said Condrashoff signed off on the expenses, saying it was not a big issue. Thompson said the bottom line is that when the agency is “looking at every dollar,” the board should pay more attention to meeting its budgeted expenses. Thompson said the newspaper article did have some errors, such as saying Dunn claimed reimbursements for Sober Grad and crab feeds. Board members receive a stipend of $119.80 for a day’s work representing the AWA at meetings or other functions. That can include more than one meeting in a day. Copies of the expense account show Dunn is the only board member to claim 10 stipends a month for every month since January 2009. Dunn’s stipends over 19 months totaled $22,700. She also claimed $3,120 in travel expenses, and $1,024 for other or miscellaneous expenses, for a 19-month total of $26,900 in expenses and stipends. She led the board in all categories. President Bill Condrashoff claimed $18,600 for meeting stipends, including two days in December 2008. He also had travel expenses of $1,800, for a total of $20,400. Director Terence Moore in the 19-month period received $15,600 in stipends, $2,200 in travel expenses, at a total of $17,900. Director Don Cooper claimed $13,400 in daily stipends, plus $2,800 in travel costs, for a total of $16,250. Director Gary Thomas had total expenses of $16,700, including $15,100 in stipends, and $1,600 in travel expenses. Thomas averaged 6.3 days of paid stipend a month over the 19-month period ending this July. In that same period, Cooper averaged 5.9 stipend days a month, Moore averaged 6.9 days, and Condrashoff averaged 8.1 days, not including two days claimed in December 2008. Dunn averaged 10 days of paid stipends a month in those 19 months, beginning in January 2009. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:22
Supes urge governor's veto on AB 2456, AB 602
Amador County - The Amador County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to send a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requesting he veto two proposed assembly bills they say will have a negative impact on rural counties. Assembly Bill 2456 and Assembly Bill 602 will both go to the Governor for his final consideration should they pass the Assembly. According to a newsletter included in the board’s agenda packet from the Regional Council or Rural Counties (RCRC), AB 2456 “would provide the Director of the state Emergency medical Services Authority (EMSA) with virtually unlimited power to disallow and overturn years of local EMS Agency policies and procedures.” RCRC said “AB 2456 would remove the flexibility critical to appropriate emergency care in rural areas and replace it with a lengthy and cumbersome process that does not improve the delivery of emergency services.” Assemblymember Alberto Torrico of Fremont authored the bill. The bill has already secured passage on the Senate floor. Supervisor Richard Forster, Amador County’s representative on the Regional Council of Rural Counties, said the idea behind the bill is to streamline services on all levels, but ultimately burdens local agencies with the cost “of new rules and regulations being shoved right down our throats.” The other bill, AB 602, would establish a five-year statute of limitations for any party to sue a city or county for claims arising out of housing statutes. In a letter to RCRC, Kathy Mannion, a legislative advocate, said “AB 602 would place the 21 rural counties that are still on a five-year housing element under constant threat of lawsuits.” These include Amador, Alpine and Calaveras counties. AB 602 was proposed by Assemblyman Mike Feuer of Los Angeles. Forster said AB 602 “really opens the door for lawsuits.” He said “it is unfortunate because there are some big associations out there supporting it.” These include the California Association of Realtors. Forster questioned why they would support it “because it seems like it would make their job a lot harder.” Chairman Brian Oneto said both of these bills are another example of “unwanted regulations that are sometimes unneeded.” Forster said that perhaps worst of all, the state is taking these positions without consulting with rural counties. The Supervisors unanimously passed a motion by Forster to request a veto from the governor for both bills. Governor Schwarzenegger will have 30 days from the time the bills pass the Assembly to act on the motion to veto. Supervisor John Plasse was absent from the meeting. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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News Archive
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:09
BOS Report for 9-15-10 with Richard Forster, Supervisor
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News Interview Videos
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:31
Linda Rianda - Sutter Creek City Council Candidate 9-15-10
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News Interview Videos
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:27
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-15-10
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News Broadcast Videos
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:31
Linda Rianda - Sutter Creek City Council Candidate 9-15-10
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Local
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:27
Amador County News TSPN TV with Alex Lane 9-15-10
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Video
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:22
Supes urge governor's veto on AB 2456, AB 602
Amador County - The Amador County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to send a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requesting he veto two proposed assembly bills they say will have a negative impact on rural counties. Assembly Bill 2456 and Assembly Bill 602 will both go to the Governor for his final consideration should they pass the Assembly. According to a newsletter included in the board’s agenda packet from the Regional Council or Rural Counties (RCRC), AB 2456 “would provide the Director of the state Emergency medical Services Authority (EMSA) with virtually unlimited power to disallow and overturn years of local EMS Agency policies and procedures.” RCRC said “AB 2456 would remove the flexibility critical to appropriate emergency care in rural areas and replace it with a lengthy and cumbersome process that does not improve the delivery of emergency services.” Assemblymember Alberto Torrico of Fremont authored the bill. The bill has already secured passage on the Senate floor. Supervisor Richard Forster, Amador County’s representative on the Regional Council of Rural Counties, said the idea behind the bill is to streamline services on all levels, but ultimately burdens local agencies with the cost “of new rules and regulations being shoved right down our throats.” The other bill, AB 602, would establish a five-year statute of limitations for any party to sue a city or county for claims arising out of housing statutes. In a letter to RCRC, Kathy Mannion, a legislative advocate, said “AB 602 would place the 21 rural counties that are still on a five-year housing element under constant threat of lawsuits.” These include Amador, Alpine and Calaveras counties. AB 602 was proposed by Assemblyman Mike Feuer of Los Angeles. Forster said AB 602 “really opens the door for lawsuits.” He said “it is unfortunate because there are some big associations out there supporting it.” These include the California Association of Realtors. Forster questioned why they would support it “because it seems like it would make their job a lot harder.” Chairman Brian Oneto said both of these bills are another example of “unwanted regulations that are sometimes unneeded.” Forster said that perhaps worst of all, the state is taking these positions without consulting with rural counties. The Supervisors unanimously passed a motion by Forster to request a veto from the governor for both bills. Governor Schwarzenegger will have 30 days from the time the bills pass the Assembly to act on the motion to veto. Supervisor John Plasse was absent from the meeting. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Local
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:21
AWA's Dunn criticizes story on her daily expenses
Amador County – Amador Water Agency board Vice President Debbie Dunn this week criticized newspaper coverage of her expenses since taking office in December 2008, saying one piece had factual errors. The Ledger Dispatch received copies of board expense accounts, and noted that Dunn was getting 10 daily stipends a month, when the board had acted to reduce board expenses to 7.5 stipends a month. Dunn in a letter to the editor reprinted on Amador Community News online said comments in the story were from a “disgruntled employee.” AWA Board Clerk Cris Thompson said Dunn in a newspaper article called her a disgruntled employee. Thompson said she simply asked the board president to sign off on Dunn’s expenses because they exceeded the budget that the board adopted for itself, giving AWA board members the equivalent of 7.5 reimbursable workdays a month. Thompson said Condrashoff signed off on the expenses. Thompson said the bottom line is that when the agency is “looking at every dollar,” the board should pay more attention to meeting its budgeted expenses. Thompson said the newspaper article did have some errors, such as saying Dunn claimed reimbursements for Sober Grad and crab feeds. Board members receive a stipend of $119.80 for a day’s work representing the AWA at meetings or other functions. That can include more than one meeting in a day. Copies of the expense account show Dunn is the only board member to claim 10 stipends a month for every month since January 2009. Dunn’s stipends over 19 months totaled $22,700. She also claimed $3,120 in travel expenses, and $1,024 for other or miscellaneous expenses, for a 19-month total of $26,900 in expenses and stipends. She led the board in all categories. President Bill Condrashoff claimed $18,600 for meeting stipends, including two days in December 2008. He also had travel expenses of $1,800, for a total of $20,400. Director Terence Moore in the 19-month period received $15,600 in stipends, $2,200 in travel expenses, at a total of $17,900. Director Don Cooper claimed $13,400 in daily stipends, plus $2,800 in travel costs, for a total of $16,250. Director Gary Thomas had total expenses of $16,700, including $15,100 in stipends, and $1,600 in travel expenses. Thomas averaged 6.3 days of paid stipend a month over the 19-month period ending this July. In that same period, Cooper averaged 5.9 stipend days a month, Moore averaged 6.9 days, and Condrashoff averaged 8.1 days, not including two days claimed in December 2008. Dunn averaged 10 days of paid stipends a month in those 19 months, beginning in January 2009. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Water
Wednesday, 15 September 2010 06:17
AWA has a year to decide on Gravity Supply Line
Amador County – Amador Water Agency has 12 months to decide whether to finish up with the Gravity Supply Line preparations or walk away. AWA District 4 Director Don Cooper said Tuesday the agency has sunk $1.02 million into the project and must decide whether to put in another $234,000 to get to the point where they can move forward with a $5 million grant, and an $8 million loan from the USDA. Cooper said he believes it is a viable project, “but there are two board members that disagree with the decision.” He referred to President Bill Condrashoff and Vice President Debbie Dunn, who he said have raised ethical questions for him with their behavior, including contacting the USDA and not sharing that information with the rest of the board or the general manager. Cooper said protocol states that if a board makes a decision, “you don’t go through gymnastics to disagree with it.” He said it was unethical, and the board once it votes should work together on the project, as with the March decision to move forward with the Gravity Supply Line. A rate increase for the Central Amador Water Project was stopped by a Proposition 218 protest, and Cooper thought “strongly that those two (Dunn and Condrashoff) were involved.” He said he “saw some pretty happy faces when that vote came in to stop that rate increase.” Cooper said the board is coming to a decision time on whether to move forward with the GSL, and will need a rate adjustment to show it can repay the long-term loan. “Another big hurdle is we need to try to get this project to where we can go out to bid.” Cooper said “we will get resistance from Debbie and Bill about spending more money.” AWA needs “about $234,000 to bring this project to the finish line and start getting some reimbursement from the USDA,” Cooper said: “I’m not ready to give up on this project, but obviously there’s a couple that are ready to give up on this project.” Cooper said citizens “David Evitt and Ken Berry believe they’ve got this sewn up by defeating the CAWP rate increase,” but he doubted the “majority of those customers really know what they shut down.” He said there will be a rate increase for the $1.02 million already spent on the GSL. He said the money is not budgeted, and the board has to decide if it will continue to put more money into debt service and bring this project to fruition, or to walk away. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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