North Shore Water Authority holds second meeting
The North Shore Water Authority held its second meeting on June 29, where they discussed the slow but steady progress they have been making in the municipalization of the Sea Cliff water district. Although they have not made any major leaps forward, such as hiring any personnel or receiving any of their promised governmental funding, they assured attendees that they are still in the early days.
The meeting was held at the Sea Cliff Village Hall, as the NSWA members had previously agreed to hold each meeting in a different village, so as to decentralize authority amongst themselves and provide each municipality the opportunity to play host to the others. However, residents from the various concerned villages pointed out that this made it difficult for other interested citizens to figure out where the meeting was being held, and the NSWA agreed to hold their meetings at the Gold Coast Public Library for the immediate future to improve convenience and ease of access.
The most important news that was announced was that the NSWA is currently waiting on $1 million in state funding. Although at least one resident who was at the meeting expressed frustration that the money was seemingly bogged down in governmental red tape, Sea Cliff representative James Versocki explained then, and again in a later interview, that while progress may seem slow, the NSWA is still a nascent organization which needs to make sure everything is done by the books, rather than rush to accomplish everything before they’re ready.
“We’re still only around 45 days old at this point, and we’ve already registered with the state and the budget authority’s office,” Versocki stated in an interview with the Herald. “We’re not ‘caught up in red tape.’ I’d say we’re just methodically doing everything correctly, and I’m confident we’ll get the funds soon.”
The lack of funds has also meant they cannot yet begin interviewing potential employees, including a chief executive officer. They pointed out at the meeting that to try and negotiate contracts was impossible at this time, as they cannot provide salary estimates or even a start date for any of the positions yet.
While Pombar admitted in a later interview that opening the bank account had been subsequently closed following the meeting, he emphasized that the decision had come from wanting to begin the process as soon as possible, and to not give Liberty Utilities any reason to claim negligence on behalf of the nascent organization.
“We decided to close the bank account as we felt that it might be at this point premature,” Pombar said. “We do not want to give Liberty the opportunity, any window of opportunity, to back out of the deal.”
Agatha Nadel, one of the founders of the North Shore Concerned Citizens and someone who has been involved in the fight against Liberty Utilities/New York American Water, expressed concern to the authority members that Liberty would soon be able to hike their water bills again. She was especially worried by the fact that the price hikes could be raised even above previous levels, as a way to punish the citizens for attempting to take control over their water district.
“When this period where Liberty agreed to not raise the rates ends, they’re going to stick it to us, I guarantee you,” Nadel asserted. “They’re going to pad those rates. So their needs to be a sense of urgency, and I for one am sick of paying this bill.”
Versocki explained that although it appeared progress was slow they were doing everything they could to make sure the process was as productive and aboveboard as possible. In the meantime, residents will have to wait until the next meeting, on July 18 at 7 p.m., to find out any further developments in the ongoing project.
