Commission Minutes February 16, 2017
For your consideration, please review the minutes from the Commission Meeting from February 16, 2017:
Commission_Meeting_Minutes_February_16,_2017_with_Attachments
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Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission
1703 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31520
Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 2:00 PM
COMMISSION MINUTES
PRESENT:
Donald M. Elliott, Chairman
Clifford Adams, Commissioner
Michael Browning, County Commissioner
Cornell L. Harvey, City Commissioner
Robert Bowen, Commissioner
Steve Copeland, Commissioner
Dave H. Ford, Commissioner
ALSO PRESENT:
Jimmy Junkin, Executive Director
Charlie Dorminy, Legal Counsel HBS
Thomas A. Boland, Sr., Deputy Director
John D. Donaghy, Director of Administration & Finance
Todd Kline, Senior Engineer
Pam Crosby, Director of Purchasing
Chairman Elliott called the meeting to order at 2:00 PM. Commissioner Copeland provided the invocation and Chairman Elliott led the pledge.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Chairman Elliott opened the public comment period.
Albert Carter – Mr. Carter stated that he would like to receive a provisional Certificate of Occupancy or waiver for an RPZ that is required at Dunwoody Building in order to receive a business license from the city for a new business. He indicated that the owner of the building at Dunwoody and individuals at JWSC are trying to come up with a resolution so that the RPZ is not interfering with pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk. Mr. Carter advised that he is in need of some type of permission and stated that the only signature required is from Joint Water & Sewer to receive a Certificate of Occupancy. Chairman Elliott indicated that the Commission would look into the matter and contact Mr. Carter.
There being no additional citizens who wished to address the Commission, Chairman Elliott closed the public comment period.
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Compliance & Legislative Committee – Commissioner Browning
Commissioner Browning reported that the committee did meet on February 15 and discussed the JWSC Operational Agreement, F.L.E.T.C. water system operation and maintenance, a report given by Angela Walker on Pre-treatment Compliance, and theft of water services.
Facilities Committee – Commissioner Adams
1st Meeting scheduled for March 9th.
Finance Committee – Chairman Elliott
Chairman Elliott reported that the Finance Committee discussed the proposed changes in the compensation policies and that this proposal had gone through the Human Resources Committee under the former Commission, but will go back before the current Human Resources Committee for approval and then to the full Commission for final approval. The Intergovernmental Agreement and the Finance Report were also discussed.
Human Resources & Safety Committee – Commissioner Harvey
1st Meeting scheduled for March 2nd.
Public Information & Customer Relations Committee – Commissioner Copeland
1st Meeting scheduled for February 28th.
APPROVAL
- Minutes from the February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting
Commissioner Browning made a motion seconded by Commissioner Adams to approve the minutes from February 2, 2017 Regular Meeting. Motion carried 7-0-0.
- Comprehensive Agreement for Pilar – C. Dorminy
Charlie Dorminy requested the Comprehensive Agreement for Pilar be deferred until the next Commission meeting due a requested change.
Commissioner Harvey made a motion seconded by Commissioner Ford to defer the Comprehensive Agreement for Pilar. Motion approved 7-0-0.
- Intergovernmental Agreement – C. Dorminy
Charlie Dorminy requested the Intergovernmental Agreement be deferred until the next Commission meeting.
Commissioner Harvey made a motion seconded by Commissioner Ford to defer the Intergovernmental Agreement. Motion approved 7-0-0.
DISCUSSION
- Finance Report – J. Donaghy
John Donaghy presented the Financial Report for the period ending January 31, 2017. Regarding current assets of cash and cash equivalents, this amount indicates an increase however there are regular transfers that need to be made into other reserve accounts such as capital improvement fees, R & R reserves, and capital reserves. The bond sinking fund has increased to $1.6 M as a result of monthly deposits with the bond trustee for coming interest and principal payments due on the 2010 bond issue on June 1st. Accounts receivable have increased. The repair and replacement reserve has decreased significantly with the offset being the increase in construction and progress as a result of using R & R funds to fund capital projects. The supplemental schedule of cash balances was discussed. The revenue and expenditures report covering the first 7 months of the current fiscal year was explained. It was noted that the total operating revenue is ahead in revenues for the year. Net revenues over cash requirements were shown at $1.47 M and capital revenues at $1.18 M for a total of $2.65 M. When the encumbrances of $1.6 M are taken into account, the net revenues over cash requirements are at an actual break even point for the year. The project report for the first 7 months of the year was also discussed. The final summary of the report indicated a deficit in R & R funding of $1.288 M with estimated balance to fund by monthly deposits of $1.458 M, leaving only approximately $170 K balance at the end of the fiscal year. This report also showed the balances of capital tap fee reserves for the each of the four districts of which those reserves under the current Operating Agreement requires the JWSC to keep these reserves to be spent only for improvements in each specific district. John also presented two graphs, the first being a bar graph showing revenue, expenses, and operating revenue over expenses for the years from 2012 through the current year 2017. The second was a line graph indicating overtime budget vs. actuals for the years of 2012 through the current year of 2017.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE
Mr. Junkin indicated no new updates. He did follow-up that they are working on getting the message out on the current needs for the JWSC business model and in moving forward to find some solutions for the near term and the long term to make sure that all the needs such as the funding in districts and expansion needs are being met. These needs cannot be met with the current rate structures and JWSC is working on solutions.
CHAIRMAN’S UPDATE
Chairman Elliott expressed that there is a need to look at alternative rate structures. He discussed meeting with the City and County to discuss changing the Operating Agreement on the consumption portion to allow JWSC to have a fixed piece and a variable piece. Currently there are little variable costs and a review of the variable and fixed costs is needed and the Operating Agreement should be altered to allow JWSC to set a rate structure different than what was envisioned when the Operating Agreement was put into place. He indicated that when the staff is looking at the upcoming budget, the fixed and variable costs and rate fees and structures should be reviewed as to how they are considered and applied. Chairman Elliott continued to discuss that the Operational Agreement does need to be reviewed with respect to the districts and how the funds are divided between those districts and currently limited to be spent within the specific districts.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The subject of property was on the agenda for Executive Session. There was a request for motion to be made to add personnel issues to the discussion in the Executive Session. There would be no vote in the Executive Session.
Commissioner Bowen made a motion seconded by Commissioner Harvey to amend the Agenda to add Personnel Issues to the Executive Session and to adjourn into Executive Session to discuss the Property Issue and Personnel Issue with no vote to be taken. Motion approved 7-0-0.
Return to regular session.
Commissioner Adams made a motion seconded by Commissioner Browning to come out of Executive Session. Motion approved 7-0-0.
Chairman Elliott adjourned the open meeting at 2:54 pm.