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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-26 Special Meeting Minutes CAPE FEAR PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY JUNE 26, 2017 SPECIAL MEETING Authority Members Present: Mike Brown, Chair Jennifer Adams, Vice-Chair Bill Norris, Treasurer Larry Sneeden, Secretary Chuck Davis Wes Corder Cindee Wolf Pat Kusek Skip Watkins Authority Member Excused: Charlie Rivenbark Staff Present: Jim Flechtner, Executive Director Frank Styers, Chief Operations Officer Beth Eckert, Environmental Management Director Kristi Irick, Customer Service Director Carel Vandermeyden, Engineering Director Eric Hatcher, Security and Emergency Manager Denise Matroni, Human Resources Director Lindsey Hallock, Executive Administrator Donna S. Pope, Clerk to the Board Attorney Present: Linda A. Miles, the Miles Firm, PLLC Guests Present: Dan Toolan Tyler Newman, BASES April Farr Steve Worrell Harper Peterson Michael Praats, Port City Daily Jaricka Duncan Sam Rankin Ruth Ravitz Smith, New Hanover County Kemp Burdette, Cape Fear River Watch Tom Morgan Miles Doran, CBS Becky Miller Anne Wilson Hannah Patrick, WWAY Spectrum News representative Tim Buckland, Star-News The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority met in its offices on Monday, June 26, 2017. Mr. Brown called the meeting to order at 11:00 AM and declared a quorum present. Mr. Watkins moved to excuse Mr. Rivenbark. Ms. Wolf seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. Mr. Brown thanked Ms. Adams and Ms. Smith for their work on the timeline and review presented to the Board on June 22. Ms. Smith was available by phone for the present meeting if needed. Mr. Brown stated that Ms. Adams worked for DuPont in Wilmington over 15 years ago and that no interaction occurred between Ms. Adams, Ms. Smith, or staff during the review. Ms. Smith believed the review to be independent, nonbiased, and thorough. Mr. Brown reported that the review found that staff had acted in an appropriate, professional, timely, and scientific manner. One recommendation stemmed from the review, and that was to consider developing a process for releasing non-standard sampling and their results to the public. Mr. Flechtner distributed copies of the 2016 Water Quality Report. He reported that there are 150 aminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) identifies and tests for unregulated contaminants in surface waters, and the results are used by EPA to set standards. CFPUA participates in the UCMR program every five years. The next UCMR testing by CFPUA will be in September 2018. information available to its customers. The practices are immediate steps that can be taken to ensure that customers have timely information. They are: Include links to the detection of unregulated contaminants, a rolling 12-month list of water quality test results, and the EPA, Centers for Disease Control, and other pertinent websites. Provide information on the new webpage regarding disinfection byproducts, UCMR, source water, and treatment processes. Report the 2018 UCMR data at a Board meeting in addition to the Water Quality Report. Issue press release for UCMR or other unregulated contaminant test results. Secure Board approval for water study partnerships and bring the results to the Board meeting following study completion. Escalate unusual or concerning test data. Conduct quarterly or special reviews with the NHC Health Department to discuss water quality trends. Board members discussed the UCMR testing schedule and the possibility of CFPUA conducting more frequent sampling. ter that is being conducted in addition to the DEQ testing. He reported that Black & Veatch, who designed the Sweeney rehabilitation and upgrades, would be setting up and testing prototypes for additional filtering and treatment at Sweeney. Mr. Styers explained the methodology for testing the prototypes and ensuring they do not impede the treatment mechanisms already in place. Mr. Sneeden suggested that CFPUA could partner with UNC-W for water testing studies. Ms. Adams agreed that alternative studies provide valuable data, and that the big question is what to do with the information gleaned from such studies. Grady endorsed providing more information about unregulated chemicals to the public but observed that it could be meaningless without interpretation and regulatory guidelines. He stated that citizens want to know about water safety, and it is a policy decision when to advise customers regarding potential contaminants. Mr. Watkins reminded the Board and staff that water issues are state and nationwide concerns. EPA (federal) DEQ (state) Industry/manufacturing Scientific community DHHS (state) and local health departments Local stakeholders Utilities such as CFPUA The Board discussed ways to interact and cooperate with other stakeholders. Ms. Becky Miller, a customer, asked that CFPUA partner with citizens and biologists, stating that this is a well-educated community. She reported that citizens desire more transparency and are concerned that decisions may be made behind closed doors. Ms. Kusek stated that, in studying the review and timeline Ms. Adams and Ms. Smith conducted, she did not agree that CFPUA responded in a timely manner, and that she could list many things that could have been done differently. She suggested that CFPUA develop a written communications policy, covering who responds to the media, how to share information, and proper Board notification. Mr. Brown thanked Board members for a helpful discussion. He suggested that staff further develop strategies and bring them to the Board through the committee process. motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board entered closed session at 12:10 PM. Following a report from staff and Board direction, Ms. Wolf moved to return to open session. Ms. Adams seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board returned to open session at 12:54 PM. Mr. Norris moved to adjourn. Mr. Watkins seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board adjourned at 12:55 PM. Respectfully submitted, Donna S. Pope Clerk to the Board