The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Council ponders forming board
Sewer Water Advisory Board would link residents with city
A new panel of citizens and experts could advise Lorain elected leaders and utility staff on water bills, sewer bills and improvement projects.
Lorain City Council will consider creating a new sewer and water advisory board, or SWAB, that would meet twice a year to analyze rates and upgrades planned by the Lorain Utilities Department.
Council has the draft legislation on the agenda for Jan. 19. But, Ward 8 Councilman Joshua Thornsberry, chairman of Council’s Streets and Utilities Committee, said he wants council suggestions for further consideration on Feb. 1.
Discussion so far
On Jan. 11, Thornsberry led a work session with more than an hour of discussion about the new board.
Council used the city of Columbus’ advisory board rules as a model to begin deliberating about one for Lorain.
Lorain Utilities Director Paul Wilson was unable to attend, but generally voiced support for creating the advisory board, Thornsberry said.
The advisory board would include the city auditor, utilities director and safety-service director.
The advisory board could include nine citizens appointed by the mayor with concurrence of Council.
They would represent residential, low-income, senior and commercial customers; utility customers served by Lorain but living outside the city; community groups; and people with training or experience in environmental regulations, grant opportunities and consumer relations.
Much of the discussion dealt with two main issues, including finding the right blend of voices of customers and people with technical expertise.
Council generally agreed on the need for resident input on the board.
Also, Council members debated whether the advisory board would examine water and sewer rates only, or larger issues about utilities.
Council debates
The new panel is a great idea, said Councilwomanat-Large Mary Springowski.
Lorain utility rates are a hot-button topic and Council and the administration have tried to provide temporary relief for residents facing high costs, Springowski said.
The new board could give residents greater input and an insider’s view of what is going on, including necessity of repairs and what is being done, she said.
The advisory board is something Lorain should have in place, said Ward 6 Councilman Rey Carrion.
Carrion suggested the board look at rates and operational efficiencies of the department, and be proactive and innovative in looking for ways to lower rates for everyone.
Carrion, Ward 1 Councilwoman Beth Henley, Councilman-at-Large Mitch Fallis and Ward 1 Councilman Rob McFarland advocated for board members having appropriate qualifications, credentials or practical expertise for the work.
Councilman-at-Large Tony Dimacchia differentiated between educational degrees and expertise developed by working in the field.
A degree should not be a requirement because it could eliminate or disqualify some potential members.
But, the advisory board is long overdue and a way to bridge the gap in communication between Council, the administration and residents on water and sewer issues, Dimacchia said.
“I fully support this,” he said.
Springowski bristled at putting conditions on who can be on the board.
Council is considering the advisory board, and Lorain voters approved a charter commission for city government, in part because residents don’t trust the elected leaders, she said.
Ward 3 Councilwoman Pamela Carter agreed with having a mix of residents and experts on the board.
Thornsberry agreed relevant experience, instead of an academic degree, could be a qualification for an advisory board member.
He also agreed too many qualifications would limit the pool of candidates to serve on the board.
Ward 4 Councilman Greg Argenti suggested advisory board members should tour Lorain’s water and sewer facilities, like Council did several years ago.
“That was quite an education, and especially for people that have no experience or exposure to that, I think that’s quite an education that will go a long way toward giving them an open viewpoint as to how these costs and everything are determined,” Argenti said.
Thornsberry said he and Wilson agreed the city utility staff will have to spend time reviewing plans and environmental requirements with board members.
Carrion cited Columbus, where the city used creative approaches to reduce overall costs of improvements required by the state and federal Environmental Protection Agency offices.
This is an opportunity for a multi-faceted approach to look at water and sewer rates along with innovation to cut costs, Carrion said.
He said he is frustrated in dealing with the status of the Utilities Department and communicating plans to Council and residents.
Council still is awaiting results of a department audit that could affect the mission of an advisory board, Thornsberry said.
Council only considered one sample of utilities advisory board rules and did not have a selection process for board members, said Council President Joel Arredondo.
Council members’ comments were not good or bad, Arredondo said.
“I think that the biggest thing is that we’re willing to make a change,” he said.