MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SERRANO WATER DISTRICT 

The Board of Directors of the Serrano Water District met in a regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, November 14, 2017.  The meeting was held at the District Office located at 18021 Lincoln Street, Villa Park, California.

CALL TO ORDER:  President Bryant called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

ROLL CALL:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS PRESENT:

Frank Bryant                           President

Greg Mills                               Vice President

C.L. “Larry” Pharris, Jr.           Board Member

Jerry Haight                            Board Member

Brad Reese                              Board Member

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS ABSENT:

STAFF PRESENT:

Jerry Vilander                         General Manager

Ann Michel                             Director, Finance & Administration

Laura Heflin                            Administrative Assistant

Joel Kuperberg                         Legal Counsel

GUESTS PRESENT:

Katie Pringle                           Curt Pringle & Associates

Diana Fascenelli                      Villa Park Council Woman

PUBLIC COMMENT

Council Woman Fascenelli reported that special council meetings as well as forums for strategic plans have been scheduled before Christmas.  The Santa Tour is scheduled the second weekend of December on Saturday.  The Boat Parade is scheduled for December 10th, and Council Woman Fascenelli invited the Board of Directors.  Currently, the Foundation is fundraising for a community services building. 

BOARD MINUTES

Consideration of Serrano Water District Board Meeting minutes of October 10, 2017.  Director Mills moved that the minutes of the October 10, 2017 meeting be approved as submitted, Director Haight seconded the motion, and the motion was unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Mills, Reese, Haight and Pharris voting yes.

GENERAL MANAGER REPORT

General Manager Vilander summarized the status of Board Committee and management matters as agendized for the month of November.  Highlighted items included discussion relating to the spillway evaluation, seismic retrofit, and emergency action plan.  General Manager Vilander reported that the bids are back from the consultants for the dam tower and that the rehabbing of Well 5 has commenced.  Director Mills requested that both units be placed on the treatment plant flows.  Director Reese questioned the necessity for four security rounds per day given the current cost of gasoline.  Following discussion, it was decided that security rounds will remain status quo. 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Following presentation of the financial report by Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, it was moved (Director Haight), seconded (Director Mills), and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Haight, Mills, and Reese voting yes to approve the disbursements in the amount of $289,952.07.  Director Reese questioned the high payment for Ware Disposal and requested that staff get bids from other disposal companies.  Ann reported that a $17,000 rate stabilization check was received last year as well as a $6,000 check for accrual reversal which accounted for the decrease in cost of insurance.  Coverage levels have remained the same.  Director Reese asked about the phone and DSL charges.  Ann reported that credit adjustments have been approved and that costs have been lowered for the main office.  Changes should be reflected on the next bill.  Director Reese remarked that he would like to review the most recent bill. 

WATER REPORT

Ann Michel, Director of Finance and Administration, presented the water report.  It was moved (Director Pharris), seconded (Director Mills), and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Mills, Haight and Reese voting yes to receive and file the water report.   General Manager Vilander informed the Board of Directors that he would be turning up the treatment plant.

REPORT BY PERSONNEL COMMITTEE FOR ANNUAL SALARY REVIEWS

Director Haight and Reese expressed concern about the escalating salaries, and lengthy discussion ensued.  It was then moved (Director Haight) that salary increases be capped at 5% this year, and the motion failed.  Following discussion, it was moved (Director Pharris), seconded (Director       Mills), and carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, and Mills voting yes (nayes – Reese and Haight) to grant the General Manager the authority to evaluate the employees and issue a 5% merit increase when deserved as well as an across the board 2.5% COLA.

ABC LICENSE RENEWAL

Following discussion led by General Manager Vilander, it was moved (Director Haight), seconded (Director       Mills), and unanimously carried with Directors Bryant, Pharris, Mills, Haight and Reese voting yes to renew the ABC license for the coming year.

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence was reviewed as agendized.

DIRECTOR COMMENTS AND REPORTS

None.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT

None.

It was announced at 10:30 a.m. that the Board would be entering into closed session.

RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION

Closed Session – Government Code Section 54957

Public Employee Performance Evaluation

Title:  General Manager

RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION

Conference with real property negotiators (Government Code Section 54956.8)

Property: Santiago Reservoir (Irvine Lake), adjacent to 4621 Santiago Canyon Road, Silverado Canyon, CA  92676.

Agency Negotiator:  Jerry Vilander

Negotiating Parties:  County of Orange

Under Negotiation:  Price and terms

The meeting was reconvened into open session at 11:43 a.m. and it was announced that there was no reportable action on both closed session items.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was formally adjourned at 11:45 a.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 @ 8:30 a.m. at the District office.  

Laura Heflin, Administrative Assistant