On March 15, 2016 Newsday published a letter from NSWCA President President Raymond Averna in response to a previously issued Newsday article. Click on the following link to read the response , “Don’t dismantle local water districts”.
Author Archives: admin29
Manzari: Locating Subterranean Leaks
At a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) meeting, guest speaker Mr. Mark Manzari, addressed the commissioners on subsurface utility engineering, in particular leak detection and field-to-finish infrastructure data collection.
Mr. Manzari, Vice President and Director of Operations at NYLD Infrastructure, New York Leak Detection, Inc., discussed how water districts can utilize state-of-the-art location and mapping technologies to deliver on site, real time utility location and depth information, as well as leak locations and condition assessments. Several Long Island Water Districts utilize these services including the Hicksville, Glenwood, Manhasset-Lakeville and Franklin Square.
“Detecting leaks is the first step toward repairing them, which conserves natural resources and contains costs,” Mr. Manzari pointed out. “Savings in terms of labor, cost and time are often realized and infrastructure integrity is preserved. Advanced location technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar are being used to verify locations of waterlines resulting in more accurate identification of problems or potential problems. Long Island, with thousands of miles of aging subterranean infrastructure, is a prime candidate for this technology.”
Mr. Raymond Averna, President of the NSWCA, and Massapequa Water Commissioner, commented, “The NSWCA’s Continuing Education Series connects expert professionals with our NSWCA Commissioners who are closest to Long Island’s water supply. We greatly appreciate Mr. Manzari’s informative presentation, and view such services as potential conservation tools in our efforts to enhance the protection of Long Island residents and our sole source supply of water.”
New 2016 NSWCA Board
At a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) meeting sponsored by the Plainview Water District, the Association elected a new board for the 2016 term, which runs through December 31, 2016.
The newly elected 2016 board includes: President Raymond J. Averna of Massapequa Water District, who succeeds outgoing President Thomas P. Hand of the Massapequa Water District;
Pictured, left to right, 1st Vice President Andrew N. Bader of the Plainview Water District; 2nd Vice President Vincent Abbatiello of the Westbury Water District; Secretary Michael F. Rich, III of Oyster Bay Water District; and Treasurer William Schuckmann of Hicksville Water District.
“Protecting, conserving and sustaining Long Island’s water supply has always been a top priority of the NSWCA,” President Averna stated. “In 2016, there will be a greater emphasis on these principles as well outreach educating the public on conservation and sustainability. Efforts will include focus on children and young adults who will someday continue the work we are doing now.”
Schweitzer Speaks On Employee Safety
Karl Schweitzer, Commissioner of the Hicksville Water District led a special presentation on Public Employee Safety and Health Employee Training Requirements during a recent NSWCA meeting hosted by Plainview Water District Commissioners Joel R. Kessler (Chairman), Andrew N. Bader and Marc B. Laykind.
Mr. Schweitzer, a past NSWCA President, spoke about OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and PESH (Public Safety and Health Bureau) while emphasizing bothworker responsibilities as well as the rights and responsibilities of water districts. “It is important for workers to follow their employer’s safety and health rules and to report any hazardous conditions to a supervisor or safety committee,” Mr. Schweitzer stated. “In turn, an employer must provide a safe, healthy workplace and follow OSHA standards.”
PESH, created in 1980, provides protection to all public sector employees at the state and local level, and enforces safety and health standards advocated under OSHA. Mr. Schweitzer gave some examples of recent PESH visits within Plainview Water District and discussed minimum employee training requirements including Emergency Action Plans and protection from possible exposure to hazardous materials.
Results of 2016 Commissioner Elections
Long Island voters have gone to the polls and elected or re-elected water commissioners in 21 commissioner-run water districts in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The terms run from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. Water district elections are held annually and residents vote for one of three district commissioners in each district.
“We are very pleased to welcome our new and returning colleagues to the NSWCA,” stated NSWCA President and Massapequa Water District Commissioner Thomas P. Hand. “Commissioner-run water districts enable residents and consumers to express their opinions and preferences through the voting process. One commissioner from each district is elected to represent the people. This puts emphasis on a hyper-local basis in each community. In such hyper-local elections, every resident’s vote truly counts.”
Those elected or re-elected include:
Albertson WD: Howard Abbondondelo
Bethpage WD: John F. Coumatos
Carle Place WD: Peter W. Meade
Cathedral Gardens WD: Glenn Barnett
Franklin Square WD: Madeline Presta
Garden City Park WD: Chris Engel
Glenwood WD: Bernard McCabe
Greenlawn WD: James M. Logan
Hicksville WD: Karl M. Schweitzer
Jericho WD: Thomas A. Abbate
Locust Valley WD: Louis P. Savinetti
Manhasset-Lakeville: Brian J. Morris
Massapequa WD: Joseph T. Tricarico
Oyster Bay WD: Richard Niznik
Plainview WD: Andrew N. Bader
Port Washington WD: David Brackett
Roslyn WD: Michael Kosinski
South Farmingdale WD: John Hirt
South Huntington WD: Dominick Feeney
Westbury WD: Vincent Abbatiello
West Hempstead WD: Joseph Marando
NSWCA is comprised of water commissioners from 21 Nassau County and Suffolk County water districts. NSWCA is dedicated to communication, efficiency and best practices among Long Island’s water districts. As part of its mission, the association holds monthly educational meetings sponsoring experts on topics that include law, cost efficiencies, rules and regulations and issues germane to water utilities.
Joseph Frank On Statutory Guidance
At a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) training session, Mr. Joseph Frank, instructed the membership on Town Law Nassau County Civil Division and Statutory Guidance for Water Commissioners.
Mr. Frank, a principal of Sapienza and Frank, Attorneys at Law (Massapequa, NY) discussed the History of Town Law, which was established in 1932, as well as the relationship, powers and duties of elected commissioners. This included limitations and what constitutes a conflict of interest.
Photo L to R: Joseph Frank, Commissioners Andrew Bader, Thomas Hand and Vincet Abbatiello.
The comprehensive training session included Section 211, which covers voting eligibility and annual elections and General Municipal Law 18, which defines Contract, Interest, and Municipality and Municipal Officer duties. In addition, Mr. Frank instructed the group regarding The Nassau County Civil Divisions Act, which became law in 1939 and established provisions regarding the operations of Water Districts in Nassau County. A vigorous question and answer period followed the presentation.
NSWCA President Thomas P. Hand commented, “Mr. Frank’s extensive water industry background brought simplicity and clarity to many issues that can be cloudy and confusing. Our Continuing Education and Training Series has been highly effective, thanks to knowledgeable speakers like Joseph Frank. The information and expert presentation was greatly appreciated by all attendees.”
A graduate of Manhattan College where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Government, Mr. Frank earned his law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. He is one of the founding partners of Sapienza and Frank which was established in 1989 and specializes in Municipal Law.
Stan Carey on Aquifer Protection & LICAP
Massapequa Water District Superintendent Stan Carey, who is NSWCA¹s representative to the Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection (LICAP), updated NSWCA members on the newly-formed LICAP commission. LICAP is a bi-county commission that addresses quantity and quality issues re: Long Island’s aquifer system including contamination, waste, saltwater intrusion, mismanagement and usage. The meeting was hosted by Locust Valley Water District Commissioners Pasquale J. Eliseo, Anker Johansen and Louis P. Savinetti.
During his address, Mr. Carey reported, “opening meetings reaffirmed LICAP’s mission, goals and deliverables. Significant among those are an annual State of the Aquifer Report and a history of Long Island¹s water supply and resources. Equally important is the establishment of two committees, the 2040 Water Resource Opportunities Subcommittees and 2040 Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee.”
“LICAP has a very important role to play on a very important subject,” stated NSWCA President and Massapequa Water District Commissioner Thomas P. Hand. “Through Mr. Carey¹s active involvement, the collective voices of NSWCA¹s 21 commissioner-run districts and all of those they represent will be heard. We endorse the comprehensive planning for the protection of Long Island¹s groundwater and the solutions to safeguard Long Island¹s aquifers.²
Appointed to LICAP by NSWCA Board of Commissioners for his vast experience and dedication to the water industry, Mr. Carey is a Suffolk County resident with 30 years of water utility experience and is Superintendent of Massapequa Water District, 2nd Vice Chairman of Long Island Water Conference, member of American Water Works Association and a volunteer fireman. He has an Applied Science degree in Public Water Supply and is a certified water treatment operator. LICAP commission members are unpaid.
Kathleen Cannon On Budget Development
At a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) Special Training Session hosted by Westbury Water District Commissioners Vincent Abbatiello, Kenneth O. Jones and William C. Olson, Kathleen Cannon, CPA and Business Manager of the Jericho Water District addressed the assemblage on the topic of “Fiscal Responsibilities of Commissioners & The Budget Process”.
Ms. Cannon’s incisive presentation included sections on the New York State Tax Cap and New York State Property Tax Freeze’s current law regarding government efficiency plans. Topics presented in detail were the key fiscal responsibilities of the Commissioners including developing and maintaining Water District policies & procedures, monitoring fiscal operations, conducting internal audits and developing an annual budget.
“Budget development is a serious process that requires meticulous attention to detail.” Ms. Cannon commented. “It requires a team effort that should be led by a Budget Officer with the ultimate responsibility of setting a realistic, structurally balanced budget on the Commissioners. Water Districts are required to submit an Annual Budget for approval from the Town in which they are located.”
NSWCA President Thomas P. Hand commented, “This is the latest in our series of Continuing Education and Training. It was particularly apropos because it helped prepare the Commissioners, Superintendents and Business Managers for their budget processes. Ms. Cannon’s ability to articulate the intricacies of each topic was greatly appreciated by all in attendance.”
Kathleen Cannon is a graduate of St. John’s University and also received her CPA license from the State of New York in 1993. Formerly the Comptroller at the Town of Huntington, Kathleen is currently the Business Manager at the Jericho Water District.
LI Water Quality Symposium
The NSWCA was well represented at the Long Island Water Quality Symposium held 10.22.15 at Carlyle On The Green. Virtually all 21 NSWCA member Districts were in attendance, and the conference covered a multitude of topics pertinent to both Nassau and Suffolk counties via four panel discussions. Stan Carey, NSWCA’s LICAP representative and Superintendent of Massapequa Water District updated the assembly on recent efforts by the LI Commission for Aquifer Protection.
NSWCA President and Massapequa Water District Commissioner Thomas Hand was moderator for the panel discussion on “Sustainable Infrastructure Management For The Water Industry.”
Port Washington Water District Commissioner Mindy Germain was a member of the panel discussing “The Quantity of Long Island’s Drinking Water” along with Jane Barbato, Water Conservationist with the Jericho Water District.
Former Oyster Bay Water Commissioner and current Nassau County Legislator, the Honorable Donald MacKenzie was part of the panel “What Your Elected and Government Officials Are Doing to Address Drinking water Concerns.
Franklin Square Water District Commissioner Ralph Pugliese, also 1st Vice Chairman of the LIWC, delivered the closing address of the Symposium.
Arnold Palleschi addresses NSWCA
At a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) meeting hosted by Massapequa Water District Commissioners Thomas P. Hand, Joseph T. Tricarico, and Raymond J. Averna, guest speaker Mr. Arnold Palleschi, Chairman, Nassau County Water Resources Board, spoke on aquifer-related topics of concern to Long Island residents. Jericho Water District Commissioner Nicholas J. Bartilucci introduced the guest speaker.
Mr. Palleschi stressed the need for conservation and sustainability and addressed issues facing Long Island’s sole source aquifer. He stated, “The Nassau Water Resources Board was created to monitor issues of sustainability, both in quantity and quality of water supply.”
Mr. Palleschi added, “Our objectives include review of potential imminent, short term and long term threats to the quality and quantity of Nassau County’s groundwater resources. As such, the Nassau Water Resources Board monitors actions of neighboring groundwater suppliers and acts as liaison between Nassau County and NYS DEC to ensure that supplier actions do not adversely affect the County’s water supply.”
Thomas P. Hand, President of the NSWCA, and Massapequa Water Commissioner, commented, “The NSWCA’s Continuing Education Series brings expert professionals in contact with our Commissioners who are closest to Long Island’s water supply. We greatly appreciate Mr. Palleschi’s informative presentation, and we endorse the protection of the county’s precious supply and concern for the wellbeing of residents.”
Currently a Senior Engineer at Dvirka & Bartilucci Architects & Engineers (Woodbury, NY), Mr. Palleschi has served as Commissioner of the Town of Hempstead Department of Water and was with the Town for over 35 years.
