SLVWD Board Meeting Summary

August 27, 2024

Mark Dolson

Highlights:

  • Authorized Signatories

  • Next Board meeting will be at 6:30 PM on September 5, 2024

Preliminaries

All five Directors were present, with Director Smolley attending remotely.

The Board met in Closed Session on August 23rd but had nothing to report.  Public comment prior to that Closed Session revealed that Bracken Brae representatives were pushing for Interim General Manager to leave whereas Forest Springs representatives wanted him to stay.

The Board met again in Closed Session prior to the Open Session this evening.  President Hill reported that the Board had formed a committee consisting of himself and Director Hill to identify a process and start a search for a temporary General Manager.

Director Smolley said he was unwell and excused himself from the Open Session.

There were three public comments on non-agendized items.

Karen Vitale of Forest Springs asked if Brian Frus was no longer Interim General Manager.  President Hill said he could not comment.  Karen said this was a very critical time for the consolidation, and it was greatly concerning to have a change of leadership at this point.  She said her concern was very practical and task-oriented.  How would bids get out?  Who would be the point person to work with?  Would there be a way very soon to learn what happens next?  President Hill said he could give no answer at this time.  Karen asked when an answer would be available, and President Hill said that has not been fully determined.  He said it would have to be discussed offline, and Karen should feel free to contact him.

Paige Moorehead, President of Bracken Brae, said she supported the decision to seek a new General Manager.

Mike Judd, Interim VP of Forest Springs, said they needed to know how far discussions have gone with the Department of Water Resources (DWR).  Brian was in the process of clearing the July 18th plan with DWR.  He said he was very disappointed with how the Board has acted in this process.  It allowed people to lead it down a path.  Brian was demonized for failing to agree with a plan put forward by Bracken Brae that Forest Springs hadn’t yet seen.  He didn’t feel that Bracken Brae had actively collaborated on this project.  He said they needed the Board to be more involved and not take sides and deal with everything and not just let this sit.

 

Unfinished Business

None.

 

New Business

Authorized Signatories

President Hill presented a resolution to amend the authorized signatories on District checks.  To continue day-to-day operations during the search for a new Interim General Manager, Board President Jeff Hill and Board Director Bob Fultz are authorized to sign.  Garrett Roffe and James Furtado remain as authorized signers.  There is a signing limit of $10,000.  President Hill said it was important to get this done because the District was currently prevented from paying bills.  He made a motion to this effect, and Director Largay seconded.

There was one public comment.  Bruce Holloway of Boulder Creek observed that this resolution was not included in the Board packet, and he asked if this would be posted.  President Hill said it came in late from Legal Counsel and would be posted.  Bruce raised questions about the legitimacy and wisdom of having Board members as signatories.  Legal Counsel Barbara Brenner said there was a whole set of safeguards before a check is signed.  Finance Contractor Heather Ippoliti added that the purpose of the resolution was to have some separation of duties.  She said we was being put in the place of the General Manager for review.  There aren’t enough high-level Staff available to implement a policy with appropriate separation of duties.  She said she was also strengthening the level of controls on the back end (e.g., access to the safe).  Also, an additional signature beyond the Board member will be needed for checks over $10,000.  Staff on this list can only be the second signature.

Director Fultz said the thought this was appropriate.  Board members are legally able to do this in this kind of situation.  He said it was also a very interim measure.

The motion passed 4-0.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.