Water Board approves Watershed Management Amendment Unanimously

 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting  
April 4, 2019

Several items were discussed during the Committee of the Whole.

• (Agenda Item 19-0319)  This involved a purchase order and an agreement with the Public Building Commission of Chicago to implement Energy Efficiency Projects. Commissioners Garcia and Shore questioned the amount of savings and return on investment. Shore questioned whether the contract management was worth the fees and asked if the energy audit could have been done in-house. The PBC charges a 7% fee for contract management.  Staff indicated that a walkaway fee would apply and would  negate any savings. 
  
• (Agenda Item 19-0329) This contract involved post award services. Part of those services is to verify results. Commissioner Davis questioned the wisdom of the contractor verifying its own results. Wouldn’t an independent provider be better suited to do this in the future?
  
• (Agenda Item 19-0241) This contract for Hazardous Waste Disposal has been deferred the past four meetings. Commissioner Davis stated he was still uncomfortable with the contract and would vote to abstain. He said there was a need to look at best practices in contract awarding in the future. The final vote: 6 ayes, 1 nay, 1 abstention, 1 present. 

At noon the Board went into executive session for 30 minutes to discuss a matter under litigation. 

When Board reconvened for the regular board meeting, the following two items were announced:

1. Commissioner Morita received a Water Impact Award.
2. Status of the Inspector General was announced. All comments are due next Wednesday, April 10. The item will appear on the agenda of the April 18 board meeting or the May meeting. Commissioner McGowan informed the board of her possible recusal when the Board deals with this issue. 

Observed by: Georgia Gebhardt                             Meeting length: 10:30-12:40    Executive session: 30 mi