Location:  CWC Headquarters (Arkville, NY)

Present:  Ric Coombe, Scott Grey, David Kukle, Steve Walker, Glen Faulkner, Jeff Gearhart, Bill Federice, David Edinger, Greg Vurckio

Others:  Jeff Baker (via ZOOM), Tim Cox,  Jason Merwin, , Samantha Costa, Jessica Fiedler, Nick Carbone, Bruce Dolph, Michelle Yost, Joan Lawrence Bauer (Walden reporter)

1.  Call to Order:  Ric called the meeting to order at 6:15 pm. 

2.  June 16, 2025, Meeting Minutes Approval:  Motion to approve the minutes made by David E. and seconded by Glen Faulkner.  Motion carried.   

3 & 4. LAP/SAP Negotiations/Status of Amended City CE to State:
Jeff began this discussion by sharing that nothing has happened since his last report in June.  Negotiations and conversations with DEP have stopped.  There has been no further action or discussions on the side agreements and with the stakeholders.  DEP is waiting to see what language and conditions DEC has in the next Water Withdrawal Permit.   DEC will be releasing the draft Water Withdrawal Permit language sometime in September and maybe will provide for a 60-day public comment period. Jeff shared that in the past the permit language was negotiated before the final review, emphasizing that this is a significant change in the process. Even though there are no negotiations currently planned, Jeff does not foresee major changes to the watershed and does not see that we will be reverting to Core LAP acquisitions in Priority Areas 3 & 4 as previously permitted. 

Jeff did share his thoughts on what may be included in the new Water Withdrawal Permit language.  He stated that even if the DEC permit has a broader scope, all it would do is to give permission to the City to purchase land.  It does not mandate the City to buy land.  Jeff suggested that items be brought forward during the FAD negotiations which will be occurring next year prior to the FAD 2027 expiration date.  Ric added that the 2027 expiration of the FAD provides us with the opportunity to move forward with negotiations on areas we did not get to address in the revised Water Withdrawal Permit.   He commented that there has been a tremendous shift in the FAD and water supply protection program from 30 years ago and we need to reposition ourselves for these changes. 

Glen asked why such a significant shift in the collaboration efforts on this Water Withdrawal Permit.  Jeff responded that there may have been several factors which led to this, one being the frustration at the City level on how drawn out the negotiations were and the constant changes going “back and forth”.

Jeff next reported that there have been no movement on the Conservation Easement final agreement on the language amendments.  There is one outstanding issue awaiting input from DEC that is related to the Shandaken and Middletown land swaps.  The City is committed to the land swaps if there are no concerns identified by the State.  They are waiting for the State to give the okay to move forward.

5.  CWC Report:  Jason provided a status report on the limited cell tower information received from the Counties.  Ric thanked Jason for his efforts on this project.  He also expressed his disappointment with our Counties and their lack of support and efforts on this project.  Ric voiced the same concerns with the lack of County responses for the Community Vitality Study.  He strongly reminded the board members that our job as elected officials is to help bring these important issues and projects to light.  We need to elevate the level of interest and put in the effort to help our community residents.  Jason fully agreed sharing that they are having problems obtaining information for the Community Vitality Study.  

Ric shared that the Community Vitality Study project team tried gathering information from the municipalities on the meeting spaces they currently have.  To help identify if a municipality is invested in their community needs, they emailed the town clerks requesting an estimate on the sizes of the meetings held, the capacity of the meeting space available, and when the available meeting space was last renovated.  The lack of response was extremely disappointing.  Ric emphasized that we asked for a group to help us out with this critical information and yet our towns cannot take the time to respond. 

The Community Vitality Study project team have sent requests to the town supervisors and town clerks to get the necessary information for the study.  Ric stressed that as elected officials we need to help acquire this data.  David K asked if the elected officials see all the questions asked by the study team.  Jason responded that it all depends on who the study team sends it to dependent on the contact information they have been provided.  David K. asked to see the questions so that he could help get the information.  He suggested that the questions be distributed to our board members so that they can assist with obtaining the information.  Ric said that for Sullivan County he got copied on the request and was able to expedite getting the information.  David K. agreed that if they all knew about the requests they could help with providing guidance to obtain the information needed.  Glen asked Jason if the study team could resend the requests and include our CWT board members and the supervisors for the municipalities in the respective county.  Ric offered a suggestion that each county identifies a county point person for the study team to help ensure action is taken. 

Jason went on to report on the FEMA grant in Prattsville.  He shared that CWC released the second bid for the work to be done, breaking it up into 4 separate projects/16 RFP’s.  They received no bids.  He expressed CWC’s disappointment in this.  CWC has a $1 million approved grant that they worked 3 years to obtain, and it will disappear as they have no contractors to do the work.  He felt that the strict federal and City reporting requirements are the main deterrents for the contractors.  What is very disheartening is the impact on the property owners who will now have to absorb the cost of repairs.   Jason also reported that CWC is extremely slow on their programs, especially the septic program,  indicating this is due to applications and construction needs.

6.  Warrants and Treasurer’s Report:  In Bud’s (CWT Treasurer) absence, Ric deputized Greg Vuckio as the assistant treasurer for the meeting.  Greg reported that as of July 31, 2025, 
the checking account had $6,392.87,
the savings account had $101,540.65 and
the CD had $52,306.30. 
David Kukle made the motion to accept the Treasurer’s report, seconded by Glen Faulkner.  Report accepted.  
Greg  presented warrant #118 in the amount of $5,550.00 for payment of the June and July legal fees and administrative support fees.  
Steve Walker made the motion to pay warrant #118, seconded by Bill Federice.  Motion carried.   

7.  Other:  Ric entertained a motion regarding Jeff Baker’s request for an increase to his salary to $210 per hour from $185 per hour which was set in 2015.  This represents a %13.5 increase over 10 years.  The increase is to be effective as of August 1, 2025.  David Kukle made the motion to approve the increase, seconded by David Edinger.  Motion carried. 

8.  Adjourn:  Motion to adjourn was made by Steve Walker, seconded by Bill Federice.  Motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.