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, 1^st Vice President Andrew N. Bader of the Plainview Water District; 2^nd 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.”

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.

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.

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.  

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 1^st Vice Chairman of the LIWC, delivered the closing address of the Symposium.

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.

Karl Schweitzer, Ray Arena, Thomas P. Hand, Jericho WD Superintendent Peter Logan, Donald T. O’Brien Manhasset-Lakeville WD, Andy Bader Plainview WD, Vin Abbatiello Westbury WD

At a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) meeting hosted by Commissioners Donald T. O’Brien, Brain J. Morris and Mark Saugvine of the Manhasset-Lakeville Water District, Peter Logan, Superintendent of the Jericho Water District, addressed the issue of nitrate removal. Mr. Logan was introduced by Jericho Water District Chairman and past NSWCA President, Nicholas Bartilucci, as part of the NSWCA’s Continuing Education and Training Series.

Mr. Logan noted that “On Long Island, sewage, septic systems and runoff from lawns carry nitrates into the groundwater. Consequently some areas are experiencing a significant rise in nitrate levels, which must be carefully monitored, and in many cases, managed through nitrate removal.

Mr. Logan referred to a proposed nitrate removal plant located in Jericho beneath the elevated water storage tank. “The project is three years in the making, not unusual for a project of this scope. Essentially, we will consolidate two wells with both elevated nitrate and VOC levels, via a proposed 12” transmission main, and combine the treatment into one large plant. Both wells will be treated at the one site, using ion exchange for removing the nitrates and Packed Tower Aeration for the VOC removal.”

NSWCA President Thomas P. Hand added “Given the need to protect Long Island’s sole source aquifer, Peter Logan’s presentation was informative and very timely. The expectation is that more nitrate removal systems will need to be built to accommodate the water needs of the Long Island population.”

Originally from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Mr. Logan is a long time Syosset resident. With the Jericho Water District since 1978, he has served as District Superintendent since 2003. Mr. Logan holds a IB Water Plant Operator’s license issued by the New York State Department of Health

As part of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioner Association’s (NSWCA) Continuing Education Program, Robin Greenwald, Esq., head of the Environmental Toxic Torts Litigation Group for Weitz & Luxenberg, spoke to the commissioners regarding environmental polluter’s responsibility and Long Island’s water systems.

Ms. Greenwald, a former assistant chief of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section, is recognized as one of this country’s top environmental lawyers, notably serving as a lead plaintiff counselor in the BP Gulf Oil spill.

The evening’s presentation discussed Long Island’s aquifers, the various pollutants that affect the communities’ watersheds and the responsibility of polluting parties. Ms. Greenwald began with a clear definition of polluting parties.

“Pollution comes from either facility polluters, defined as polluters that operate in your watershed, or product manufacturer polluters, where the manufactured product contains pollutants that escape into the environment and cause damage,” explained Ms. Greenwald. “Litigating for damages to our water resources is one way to ensure that both facility and manufacturers are responsible in their operation. When they are not, the law can hold the responsible parties liable for their damages.”

“As Long Island’s water resource can be affected by pollutants that seep into the earth from groundwater, it is particularly important to our individual districts that we, as water commissioners, remain vigilant in our watch and educated in our response options,” NSWCA President Thomas Hand commented.

The benefits of litigation can include recovery of the costs of filtration, building and installing of systems, the annual costs of operation and maintenance, funding for the necessary clean up of contaminated sites and prevention of future contamination.

Westbury Water District Commissioners Vincent Abbatiello, Kenneth O. Jones and William C. Olson, hosted a NSWCA Training Meeting featuring legal expert Michael F. Ingham of Carman, Callahan & Ingham LLP (Farmingdale, NY) addressed the assemblage on the topic of “Water Commissioner Management Powers and Responsibilities”.

Mr. Ingham focused on the legal duties and powers of elected commissioners, beginning with a historical perspective that included discussion of the Kirkland Act, Town Law 215, precedence of the Nassau County Civil Divisions Act, and the responsibility of each district to achieve ‘maximum benefit/best value’. The Training Module was inclusive of the conduct of Executive Sessions and Work Sessions open to the public. The subsequent Q&A brought deeper discussion of several specific topics.

Andy Bader, Mike Ingham, Thomas Hand, Vin Abbatiello

NSWCA President Thomas P. Hand commented, “This is the latest installment of our Continuing Education and Training Series. The hands on session delved into important governance issues that concern all commissioners, superintendents and professional personnel from commissioner-elected water districts. Mr. Ingham’s extensive field knowledge and ability to express the laws and regulations in a way that all could readily absorb was greatly appreciated by all attending.”

Mr. Ingham is a graduate of Hamilton College and New York University and received his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. He joined Carman, Callahan & Ingham in 1981 and specializes in complex insurance coverage litigation and Appellate Practice

In response to Professor Brinkmann’s April 6^th editorial letter “Our approach to water is all wrong”, the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) concurs that our public water supply aquifer is a precious natural resource requiring constant vigilance to ensure long-term sustainability. However, several references used in Professor Brinkmann’s editorial are not accurate comparisons of the situation regarding our sole source water supply.

First, the Long Island aquifer is in fact managed by one agency. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has complete authority over all local water suppliers with regard to withdrawal. The NYSDEC approves all well permits and receives monthly reports from all suppliers.

Second, in addition to the NYSDEC, an Aquifer Commission was formed in 2013 by both the Nassau and Suffolk County Legislatures to study Long Island’s aquifer and to furnish a report. This commission, called LICAP (Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection), consists of a panel of experts from county health departments, public water suppliers, the Long Island Water Conference, Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association, the USGS, Suffolk County Water Authority, Environmental Advocates and appointees from elected officials.

Third, the reference to southern California’s water situation is not relevant since it compares Long Island to a desert-like region with entirely different conditions. The Texas and Florida examples are similarly inaccurate. Neither has such a widespread aquifer system with recharge rates comparable to that of Long Island. In fact, in both of those hot climates, the pumping season is much longer than ours.

A fair representation would be to compare water rates of those communities with Long Island rates. In most cases, Long Island’s water rates are lower by nearly half.

As stewards closest to the source of Long Island’s water, we do agree that water conservation is imperative to long term sustainability. In addition, we maintain that the prime focus needs to be on the protection of our vital Long Island Aquifer system and the treatment and elimination of contamination.

Respectfully,

Thomas Hand,

President, Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association