The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Mayor appoints advisory board
A new Sewer and Water Advisory Board, also known as SWAB, includes people with experience in local government in Lorain.
Mayor Jack Bradley appointed nine members to the board, which was reviewed May 3 by Lorain City Council.
Carrie Buckley, Stephen Bansek and William Gollnitz will serve two-year terms; Jessica Crutcher, Ronald Mantini and Mark Ballard will serve threeyear terms; and Bryan Goldthorpe, Patrick McGannon and Bruno Catalano II will serve four-year terms.
“I think it’s a good board, a good mixture of people from the community,” Bradley said. “We did not have that many applications, so we tried the best we could to fit the applicants with the description that was in the legislation.
“And, I believe that we have a good cross-section of representation on the board. I’m looking forward to working with them.”
Awaiting first meeting date
As of May 3, the board had no first meeting set yet.
Bradley said he hopes they can begin deliberations in the next 30 to 60 days.
The process likely will start with tours of the city’s water and sewage treatment plants, then scheduling a meeting for the board members to organize, the mayor said.
The applicants were asked to list the qualities that would make them good candidates for the board.
They also described how they see the role of the board in the future of Lorain.
The applicants had some common themes.
They called for open communications and striking the right balance between serving resident needs and upgrading the city’s water and sewer systems.
The members are:
• Buckley currently is office manager at a familyowned pest control business.
She has 25 years’ experience in customer satisfaction in health care.
Buckley will represent Lorain’s residential customers on the board.
She said her experience in customer service will help the department and she hopes to contribute to make Lorain a great place to live, work and play.
“This group will help the perceived transparency issues with the Utility Department,” Buckley said. “I also believe there is a great need for the team/department to educate the public on the reasons for decisions, i.e., rate hikes, etc.”
• Bansek, a retired clerk of courts for Lorain, has been involved with a number of public projects over the years, including planning the city’s annual Memorial Day Parade. He will represent senior citizen customers.
Bansek said the board will improve communications between the Water and Sewer Departments and the citizens and should be clear with the costs and services that are easily understood.
The board also should help justify the costs and needs for the services provided and search for grants to the Utilities Department can better serve the citizens.
• Gollnitz, of Sheffield Village, will represent Lorain utility customers who live in other communities.
He is the retired superintendent of water purification for Lorain.
Gollnitz has 44 years’ experience in drinking water treatment in New York, Rhode Island and Ohio, and has a master’s degree in environmental science-water resources from the State University of New York Syracuse.
“The SWAB should be an advisory board providing input concerning all aspects of water and wastewater management,” he said. “This would include budget review, water/sewer rate reviews, construction project review. The board should also assist with helping to educate the public with respect to providing them with a clean and pure public water supply at a reasonable cost.”
• Crutcher will speak for Lorain’s low-income utility customers.
She has a master’s degree in business and has been involved in charitable programs in Lorain.
The new board should work with city directors to ensure the residents of Lorain receive fair utility practices, Crutcher said.
“There are more people than anyone realizes that has problems with their water/sewer bill,” she said. “The simple fact is that people usually do not go around and talk about that with friends and neighbors because it is humiliating when your water gets shut off. I see this as a group of citizens who know and understand what we should be seeing on our water bills and to help stop the termination of service to people who are in a desperate situation.”
• Mantini will represent the city’s commercial customers of water and sewer service.
A retired city auditor, he is president and treasurer of the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation and is treasurer of the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame.
Mantini said he is knowledgeable in utility rate structures, project financing, loans and city finances.
The board should work to set the rate structure to properly maintain utility infrastructure to provide utility services to customers, he said. That includes water and sewer line replacement on a regular schedule and maintaining or replacing water and sewer plants, with a reasonable rate structure, Mantini said.
• Ballard will represent community and civic groups.
He is current president of the Lorain City Schools Board of Education and he has been involved in a number of
civic groups.
Ballard is general manager of WNZN 89.1 FM radio and founder of 100 Men of Lorain community group.
The board’s role is communicating and advocating for the community, Ballard said.
• Goldthorpe, a park manager for Lorain County Metro Parks, has knowledge and technical experience and education in green technology, energy conservation and environmental regulations.
An Army veteran, he said his experience is wellrounded and he has worked with government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture.
“I have been involved with projects and I understand the infrastructure and need to upgrade,” Goldthorpe said. “I am also a Lorain resident who cares about the community.”
The Sewer and Water Advisory Board will deal with the future of Lorain, he said.
“Much of the infrastructure is in need of upgrading,” Goldthorpe said. “I hope that the SWAB will have a role in ensuring the upgrades are done in an efficient manner and can help the public understand the funds are being properly spent.”
• McGannon has technical and educational experience in energy conservation, energy efficiencies or knowledge in federal and state grant opportunities.
He worked for 37 years in the Lorain Engineering Department and developed a comprehensive background in the city’s infrastructure, he said.
“Infrastructure being so important to the future of our city, it is one of the main elements that brings and maintains businesses, residents and affects the quality of life in our city,” McGannon said. “Quality, along with reasonable costs, are a key to accomplishing that goal.”
• Catalano has technical experience or education relating to customer service and customer relations.
He is a project manager for a software company and worked in information technology support and service for the Central Intelligence Agency.
Catalano said he has critical thinking skills and years of experience working with and providing solutions to customers to meet a variety of requirements and issues.
“While keeping interests of the citizens in mind, the SWAB should consider all information regarding sewer and water matters and provide critical council to local government,” he said. “The SWAB should do what it can to ensure our utilities meet the needs of the current while ensuring they are prepared to handle the future.”