MWRD Board Bids Adieu To Executive Director Perkovich

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
March 20, 2025

Resolution lauding retiring Executive Director Brian Perkovich.  Commissioners joined in wishing the ED well and thanking him for his 31 years of service at the MWRD.

Board Action:
Commissioner Garcia requested agenda items #21 and #22 be considered together. 

• The items involved the awarding of a contract to Furnish and Deliver Glass and Plastic Labware, etc.
  
• Commissioner Garcia had many questions about how many vendor bids were received, how long the procurement would take and whether there were participation goals. How many were one-year contracts vs multi-year? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to do multi-year contracts which would increase the amount so that MG goals can be applied? 
  
• ED Perkovich was not able to answer these detailed questions at the meeting but said he would respond. 
  
• Commissioner Garcia’s requested deferral of both items.
• Commissioner Kirkwood stated that asking these questions before the meeting would be better. Commissioner Waller suggested that smaller contracts were good for diversity. 
• Commissioner Sepulveda stated a need to understand the logic for smaller contracts, asking how do we assess which is better?   25-0225 and 25-0227

Agenda Item #31 gave authority to approve an Amended Agreed Order of Settlement for MWRD v. Electronic Plating Co.

• The MWRD Legal Department stated that compliance with the hearing officer ruling is best for the MWRD. Commissioner Davis asked if this would deter future noncompliance and asked what monitoring device would be used to ensure this. Would the monitoring be daily? weekly? Answer: there would be sampling every day
• Commissioner Waller expressed wish for deferral and an exploration of a new settlement. She stated that she would be voting no.
• Commissioners Flynn and Brady-Davis expressed reservations but would vote yes. 
• Commissioner Sepulveda chastised the company for violating board orders; MWRD will be increasing penalties in the future.
• Counsel for the company stated that his client will comply. 
• ommissioner Davis stated that this is a lesson that the Board needs to revisit the compliance penalties.  Commissioner Kirkwood requested a roll call vote.   Aye: 8        Nay: 1. 25-0154

Deferred or Deleted Agenda Items:

• Deleted by Executive Director: # 19 (25-0201) and #27 (25-0224)
• Deferred:  Items #21and #22 by Garcia (see above)  
• #23-0236 by Steele with no discussion. Resolution to award a $14.9 million contract for chemical phosphorus removal in treated water at the O’Brien plant before release into the river.

New Business:

• Commissioner Flynn raised issue of industrial hemp as a new cultivar. She proposed that the Board investigate this. 

Observer:  Georgia Gebhardt         ​Meeting Length - 109 minutes - No Executive Session