Commissioner Kimberly Du Buclet has Resigned from the MWRD Board

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 18, 2023

Commissioner Kimberly Du Buclet resigned from the MWRD Board.   She was selected to serve as  the State Representative of the 5th District after the resignation of Lamont Robinson who was recently elected as alderman of Chicago's 4th Ward.

​Deferred Agenda Items: (All 3 Items deferred at request of Commissioner Garcia)

• Agenda Item 19 23-0459 - This item was a purchase order for a contract for benefits consulting services with Deloitte Consulting for an amount not to exceed $150,000.  Commissioner Garcia questioned the proposed minority vendor participation of only 5%.  Diversity  Administrator  Martinez explained that they were the only ones qualified on the approved vendor list. Commissioner Garcia asked what the MWRD was doing to get more minority vendors on the approved list.  The MWRD has held virtual and in-person vendor fairs to encourage minority vendor participation. Commissioner Spryopoulos recommended that the District send letters about the modified vendor approval process to the registered vendors on the Cook County  and City of Chicago Lists.   Commissioner Garcia requested a report on everything the District is doing to contact  potential vendors and improve the registration process.     
• Item 21  23-0467 - This item was a  purchase order for a contract with WM Reply for intranet development for an amount not to exceed $380,000.00.   Commissioner Garcia questioned why he did not receive a report about this contract.  Since this was not a sealed bid contract, Commissioners currently do not get a separate report on it.  The contracts are listed on the website.  Executive  Director Perkovich said they would provide the Commissioners with reports of both open and closed bidding  going forward.
• Item 24  23-0475 - This item was a purchase order for a contract with Princeton University for greenhouse gas monitoring for an amount not to exceed $100,414.00 Commissioner Garcia asked if local universities were asked to participate and why there were no minority participation goals in the contract since it was for more than $100,000.  Executive Director Perkovich explained that Princeton is the only university developing these specialized sensors.   The outcome report will be provided to local universities.

State Legislation

• Item 45  23-0510  Formation of the 2023-2024 MWRD Committee on Local Government Efficiency. A new state statute requires all metropolitan governments to form a committee to look at efficiency of their operations and produce a report in 2024.   

Executive Session - ​There was an executive session but there were no announcements from the session. 

Observer:  Kathleen Graffam