Water Administration in Small and Mid-Sized New York State - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Water Administration in Small and Mid-Sized New York State Cities

Charter ProvisionsSlide2

American best practice

in governmental organization distinguishes

between policy-making positions and administrative positions. (Research shows that this distinction is significant, but often does not describe actual practice.)American best practice prefers the use of single-headed agencies for administrative purposes.American best practice has evolved to prefer appointment over election for administrative posts.Boards are often used for quasi-judicial or regulatory functions Boards are often preferred for policy makingElected Boards - City Councils, School DistrictsAdvisory boards – Provide special expertise and a variety of community perspectives

the Use of Boards in U.S. GovernmentSlide3

Elected

Directly responsive to electorate

Based in and linked to the communityButProfessional preparation not requiredElection may not really produce accountability (competition, timing, turnout)Barrier to collaborationAppointedMore likely to be professionally prepared

Accountable to appointing authority

But

May not be from community

Careerism

No “mandate”

Elected vs. AppointedSlide4

General Purpose

Management of resources with a broad perspective across functions, facilitating tradeoffs among them

More likely to think about the “general interest” of the jurisdiction Special purposeElevates importance of a single function. No need to consider other functions.May allow distinct financing for operations and capital needsButDedicated funds may lead to waste

May lack overall perspective

of community needs

General Purpose vs. Special Purpose GovernmentsSlide5

How do small cities in New York State provide by charter for Administration of their water systems?Slide6

23 NYS Cities with populations between

7,000 and 23,000

,* Kingston - the largest (22,828).Johnstown – (8,668)*All data from 2012 U.S. Census American FactFinderCities In StudyJohnstown – 8,668Amsterdam – 18,485

Batavia – 15,472

Beacon – 15,488

Canandaigua – 10,567

Cohoes – 16,153

Corning – 11,146

Fulton – 11,852

Geneva – 13,264

Glens Falls – 14,696

Gloversville – 15,580

Hornell – 8,576

Hudson – 6,731

Kingston – 23,864

Lackawanna – 18,116

Lockport – 21,112

Norwich – 7,193

Ogdensburg – 11,177

Olean – 14,408

Oneida – 11,335

Oneonta – 13,890

Oswego – 18,140

Peekskill – 23,568

Plattsburgh – 19,911

Port Jervis – 8,816

Rensselaer – 9,378

Rye – 15,713

Tonawanda – 15,113

Watervliet – 10,259Slide7

Is there a Water Board?

Water Board

Elected - Johnstown, GloversvilleAppointed - Glens Falls, Kingston Appointed (Advisory only) – Amsterdam, Cortland, Oneida, WatervlietNo Water BoardBatavia, Canandaigua, Cohoes, Dunkirk, Fulton, Geneva, Hornell, Hudson, Lockport, Ogdensburg, Olean, Oneonta, Peekskill, Platsburgh, Port Jervis, Rensselaer, Rye

No Water Supply Provision

Beacon, LackawannaSlide8

No water board

structure

Water Dept. as Division of

Dept. of Public Works:

Water Dept. as Independent Dept.

Under the Mayor/Manager:

Cities: Batavia, Cohoes, Dunkirk, Fulton, Geneva, Hornell, Hudson, Ogdensburg

*

3

models: 1.

With

and 2.

without advice

and consent of the Common Council, 3. Approval of City Manager

Cities:Slide9

No Water board –

Canandaigua Model

*Appointment subject to advice and consent of the Common Council

** Appointment subject to approval of City ManagerSlide10

Administrative

Water board – ELECTORAL*Members of Board Elected:

Cities: Johnstown, Gloversville

*No a

dvisory

boards are elected

ElectorateSlide11

Johnstown’s original charter (1895) provided for a 5 member elected Water Board, one chosen at-large and one each from 4 wards within the city

Other elected offices provided specified in the 1895 charter:

At-large – Mayor, Alderman-at-Large, Recorder, Chamberlain, Assessor, members of the City Board of Education (9), Justices of the Peace (2), Constables (2) From Wards – Aldermen (4)Origin of Elected Water Board in JohnstownSlide12

1895 Charter Elected water board1905 Charter

Elected water board

1933 Local Law No. 2 Abolished Water Board1949 Charter RevisionRevision by 1933 Local Law No. 2 implemented in charter1962 Charter RevisionAdvised against elected water board, but in favor of Advisory Water BoardCity of Johnstown – Water Board HistorySlide13

1982 Local Law No. 2 to Amend City CharterReestablished Elected Water Board on advice of Advisory Water Board

Common Council votes unanimously in favor

Mayor makes initial appointments to water board (1 person to 3 year term, 1 to 2 year term, and 3 to 1 year term)Mayor makes initial appointment of Water Board Clerk and Water Superintendent2001 Charter RevisionElected Water Board remains in CharterWater Board History (cont.)Slide14

ADMINISTRATIVE WATER BOARD - APPOINTED

* 2 Models:

With and without advice and consent of the Common Council

Cities: Kingston,

** Kingston: Mayor is member of Water BoardSlide15

Advisory Water board – appointed

Appointed:

Amsterdam

Advisory Water Board*

* Advisory Water Board members appointed by Mayor/ManagerSlide16

Water and Sewer board

Administrative:

Advisory:

Administrative: Glens Falls

Advisory Water/Sewer Board*

Advisory: CortlandSlide17

Charter Provisions Concerning Water Rents

Fiscal managementSlide18

Water Board

Johnstown, Gloversville

Water DepartmentFulton ( transferred to Chamberlain), Hornell (Dept. of Public Works)City Comptroller or TreasurerCohoes, Dunkirk, Hudson, Kingston, OgdensburgCity ClerkBatavia, Canandaigua (Clerk/Treasurer)Director of Administration and Finance

Cortland

No Provision

Beacon

Receipt of rentsSlide19

Separate Water Fund

Johnstown

, Fulton, Gloversville, Hudson, KingstonWater/Sewer FundGlens FallsWater Fund within Public Works FundCohoes, HornellNo ProvisionBeacon, Canandaigua, Cortland, Dunkirk

Relationship of Rents to general fundSlide20

USE OF Surplus (if any)

First place:

Payment of debt obligations for Water Supply

Amsterdam, Cohoes, Fulton, Hudson, Kingston

Common Council may appropriate

Lockport

Payment of any city debt obligation or deficit

Gloversville

Sinking/Reserve Water Fund

Amsterdam, Fulton, Hudson

Second Place:

Payment of debt obligations for Water Supply

Amsterdam, Cohoes, Fulton, Hudson, Kingston

Common Council may appropriate

Lockport

Payment of any city debt obligation or deficit

Gloversville

Sinking/Reserve Water Fund

Amsterdam, Fulton, Hudson

Use of surplus not mentioned in Charter

Johnstown

Batavia

Beacon

Canandaigua

Cortland

Dunkirk

Geneva

Glens Falls

Hornell

Lackawanna

Norwich

Ogdensburg

Olean

Oneida

Oneonta

Oswego

Peekskill

Plattsburgh

Port Jervis

Rensselaer

Rye

Tonawanda