No reason to dissolve Public Utility Commission

To the Editor,

The Municipal Utility Commission for the Village of Bath was formed to be an intermediary for the ratepayers and to keep the utilities from becoming a political entity or one that catered to special interests. The Commission is comprised of five members, appointed by the Village Board, for terms of five years, with one term expiring each year. This provides for continuity of projects and greater understanding of the issues facing the four divisions in the utility: electric, gas, water and sewer. The Village Board composition is subject to change each and every year. There is the possibility that the current village board could change before the project gets started and again, before it is completed.

The Village appoints a Liaison to the Commission, and this person is directed to attend each regular commission meeting to exchange information from the two boards. Therefore, they have direct input and can ask direct questions about anything being considered or discussed by the Commission. Minutes of each monthly meeting, as well as the Director of Utility's report, are sent to the Village and each Trustee for their review prior to their own meeting. The minutes accurately reflect the business of the commission. The Director of Utilities attend each village board meeting for clarification of anything reported or to answer questions.

It is respectfully submitted that the Utilities cannot be administered as just another department of Village government. It is four separate "companies," overseen by at least as many regulatory bodies, and each with a separate budget. The entire utility budget is submitted to the Village for approval annually, separate and apart from the Village budget. The money from the utility operation cannot be and should not be co-mingled with the general budget of the village.

There is a combined 65 years of experience on the current utility commission. Larry Crossett and Harold Rodbourn have served as village trustees and liaisons to the Utility Commission. Larry is experienced in financial matters of both the village and the utilities, and is retired as the Steuben County Treasurer. Harold brings a wealth of electrical knowledge, from operation to network resources to suppliers, as the Operations Manager at Steuben Rural Electric. Barney Bonicave is an expert on water issues, regulations and well operation. He also serves the Village planning board and was instrumental in the comprehensive plan for the village, which identified the utilities as their top asset. Ken Ward is a thirdgeneration local businessman who served the school board many years and knows employee relations and negotiations. He is still active in regional, industry organizations dealing with budgets, equipment procurement and different regulatory bodies. Barb Scudder owned her own business in the village 29 years, served on the planning board and has been a utility commissioner for 16 years, learning the terms, divisions and employees. She knows budgeting, benefits, sales and technology from having to deal with it first hand.

The electric infrastructure needs to be upgraded for the Village of Bath to meet current and future needs for safe and reliable electric. The Village Board and the Utility Commission may continue the debate on how it will be accomplished and paid for. However, this is no reason to dissolve the commission. This action would not be in the best interest of the consumer/rate payers of the Village of Bath.
Barbara Scudder
Bath
The writer is chairman of the
Municipal Utility Commission.