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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-12 MinutesCAPE FEAR PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY AUTHORITY BOARD MINUTES MARCH 12, 2025 Jordan Room Regular Meeting 9:00 AM 235 GOVERNMENT CENTER DRIVE WILMINGTON, NC 28403 I. CALL TO ORDER Ms. Adams called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM. II. DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM Mr. Zapple moved to excuse Mr. Briggs. Mr. Rivenbark seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board had a quorum in attendance, as follows: Authority members present: Jennifer Adams, Chair Deans Hackney, Vice -Chair Jessica Cannon, Secretary Wes Corder, Treasurer Leslie Hudson, Authority Member Bill Smith, Authority Member Charlie Rivenbark, Councilmember Dane Scalise, Commissioner Luke Waddell, Sr., Councilmember Rob Zapple, Commissioner Authority member excused: Hollis Briggs, Jr. Staff present: Kenneth Waldroup, Executive Director Nicolette Fulton, Authority Attorney Beth Eckert, Deputy Executive Director Kevin Morris, Deputy Executive Director John McLean, CFO and Deputy Executive Director Judy Lawton, Deputy Clerk Makeba Robinson, Deputy Clerk Donna S. Pope, Clerk to the Board (Additional staff and visitors were in an adjacent space with a broadcast of the meeting.) III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Mr. Scalise moved to approve the day's agenda. Mr. Waddell seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approval of Minutes - Regular Meeting - February 12, 2025 Dr. Cannon presented the February minutes and moved for approval. Mr. Smith seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. V. PUBLIC COMMENTS - 4 MINUTE LIMIT PER SPEAKER There were no public speakers. VI. CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Waddell moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Mr. Scalise seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. A. Audit Services Contract B. $236,692 Contract with Mobile Communications America, Inc. for SCADA Equipment for the Wrightsville Beach SCADA Conversion Project C. Purchase Agreement with Curtis Power Solutions for Wrightsville Beach Generator Replacements VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Administrative Reports 1. Attorney's Report Ms. Fulton had no report for open session. She requested a closed session to discuss contract negotiations. 2. Executive Director's Report Mr. Waldroup directed Authority members to the monthly reports in the agenda packet. He thanked them for their assistance in changing the location and time of the Board meeting. Mr. Waldroup reminded the Board that the annual service awards will be Wednesday, March 19, at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He further reported that administrative building upgrades are complete, and he thanked engineering and maintenance staff for their work on the project. In particular, he thanked John Kupinski, the project manager. Mr. Waldroup pointed out that the large conference room on the second floor is now named for Matthew Jordan, CFPUA's first Manager and Chief Executive Officer. The new, smaller conference room on the second floor is named for Linda A. Miles, the Authority's long-time attorney. i. Key Indicators The report was in the agenda for review. Mr. Zapple noted that inspections in the Developmental Services division have increased. ii. Safety Report The report was in the agenda for review. iii. Environmental Report The report was in the agenda for review. iv. Strategic Plan Update The report was in the agenda for review. V. Economic Development Projects Update The report was in the agenda for review. B. Committee Reports 1. Executive Committee The Executive Committee did not meet in March. 2. Long Range Planning Committee i. Long Range Planning Minutes 2.27.2025 Mr. Hackney reported that the Committee met on February 27. The minutes and supporting information was in the agenda packet for review. ii. Presentation of Draft 10-Year CIP The draft was in the agenda for review. A Board workshop on capital improvements followed the regular Board meeting. iii. Selected Project Updates The report was in the agenda for review. 3. Finance Committee i. Finance Committee Minutes 3.5.2025 Mr. Corder reported that the Committee met on March 5. The minutes were in the agenda for review. Monthly Financials Mr. McLean presented the February financial data. The unassigned fund balance is $41.180,722, showing a steady increase over the beginning of the fiscal year. CFPUA has received $3.9 million from Wrightsville Beach as partial payment for the Town's system development fees. Mr. McLean recommended that the Board re-evaluate the amount of money to retain in the undesignated fund balance. He suggested that $60-65 million would be an appropriate amount. The fund is attractive to rating agencies and provides a cushion for grant -funded projects that are reimbursed at the project's end. The Finance Committee will review staff's analysis and bring a committee recommendation to the full Board. iii. Series 2025 Bond Order Staff has met with Moody's and has a meeting scheduled with Standard & Poor's. Mr. McLean anticipates favorable bond ratings. The FY25 Bonds will go to the Local Government Commission for approval in early April, and the sale will be on April 16. Mr. McLean presented the Bond Order. He and Mr. Waldroup answered questions regarding the Order and the eight projects listed for bond funding. Mr. Smith moved to approve the Bond Order. Mr. Rivenbark seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. 4. Sustainability Committee Sustainability Minutes 2.27.2025 Dr. Cannon reported that the Committee met on February 27, and the minutes were in the packet for review. CFPUA Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resiliency presentation Ms. Eckert provided an overview of CFPUA's emergency preparedness, resiliency, and response plans. Efficiencies, resilience and sustainability intersect to provide an optimal outcome for operations and uninterrupted service for customers. CFPUA's planning includes preparation and response plans for natural disasters, such as hurricanes or other weather events, and man-made threats such as sanitary sewer overflows, human error, cyber attacks, and potential terrorism. Planning is in place across all departments, and staff participates in emergency exercises in house and with other local, state, and federal agencies. In particular, CFPUA has backups for laboratory work, both internally and through contracts with outside labs. The IT department has very robust safeguards to protect CFPUA's data, internet, call center, and business processes. Ms. Eckert and Messrs. Waldroup and Ellison answered questions regarding emergency preparedness and IT security. 5. Human Resources Committee HR Committee Minutes 2/12/2025 Ms. Adams reported that the Committee met on February 12, and the minutes were in the packet. ii. Innolect Cultural Assessment Presentation At the February meeting, the Committee received the results of the employee survey and will provide feedback at its next meeting. The survey results and consultant's report were in the agenda packet for the full Board to review. VIII. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. IX. AUTHORITY Q & A / CLOSING COMMENTS Ms. Adams recognized Mr. Briggs' for his dedication and work on behalf of CFPUA, its customers, and staff. She asked that Board members keep him their thoughts and prayers. X. CLOSED SESSION Mr. Rivenbark moved to enter closed session to discuss contract negotiations. Mr. Scalise seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board entered closed session at 1:38 PM and received a report from Ms. Fulton. Mr. Corder moved to return to open session. Mr. Rivenbark seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The Board returned to open session at 2:16 PM. XI. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Smith moved to adjourn. Mr. Hackney seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 2:17 PM. The next regular Authority meeting will be Wednesday, April 9, 2025. The Board will meet in Rooms 138 and 139, New Hanover County Administration Building, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina, beginning at 9:00 AM. Respectfully submitted, Donna S. Pope Clerk to the Board