Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority

Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority MINUTES June 12, 2024, 5:30 p.m. GRU Administration Building 301 SE 4th Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 Members Present: Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Lawson, Robert Skinner _____________________________________________________________________ A. CALL TO ORDER B. ROLL CALL C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE D. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Vice-Chair Haslam Adoption of the Agenda with an Amendment: Add Director Comments prior to Chair Comments. Aye (5): Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Chair Lawson, and Robert Skinner Approved (5 to 0) E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Robert Skinner 1  Aye (5): Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Chair Lawson, and Robert Skinner Approved (5 to 0) 1. Approval of Minutes from the May 29 2024 Meeting F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS Motion 1 Public Comment: Jim Konish, Chuck Ross, Bob Chewning, Nancy Deren, Debbie Martinez, Chad Roth, Bobby Murmur, Ernesto Martinez, Tyler Forrest The board discussed motion 1 further. Motion 2 Public Comment: Jim Konish, Bob Chewning, Chuck Ross, Debbie Martinez, Bobby Murmur, Nancy Deren The board discussed motion 2 further. Motion 3 Public Comment: Jim Konish, Debbie Martinez (withdrawn) The board discussed the motion 3 further. Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Vice-Chair Haslam Motion 1: That we terminate Tony Cunningham, not immediately, but either when the chair/interim CEO/GM negotiate his exit strategy. Aye (4): Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, and Robert Skinner Nay (1): Chair Lawson Approved (4 to 1) 2  Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Robert Skinner Motion 2: Following this meeting tonight, Chair Bielarski resign from this board and take the interim general manager position of the utility. Aye (4): Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Chair Lawson, and Robert Skinner Abstained (1): Chair Bielarski Approved (4 to 0) Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Robert Skinner Motion 3: Director Lawson become Chair of this board and Director Haslam would maintain his role as Vice-Chair of this board. Aye (5): Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Chair Lawson, and Robert Skinner Approved (5 to 0) G. CHAIR COMMENTS Chair Bielarski shared some comments with the board. H. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT Jim Konish, Debbie Martinez, Chuck Ross, Bob Chewning, Kollee Blount I. CONSENT AGENDA 1. 2024-484 Janitorial and Porter Services for the Eastside Operations Center (B) Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Robert Skinner Recommendation: The GRU Authority Board: 1) authorize the CEO/General Manager, or his designee, to execute a contract with Contractors Enterprises for janitorial services at the Eastside Operations Center, subject to approval of the GRU Attorney as to form and legality; and 2) approve the issuance of purchase orders to Contractors Enterprises in an amount not to exceed $9,416.67 per month for FY2024 and for subsequent years of the contract, pending final appropriation of funds for each year. 3  Aye (5): Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Chair Lawson, and Robert Skinner Approved (5 to 0) J. CEO/GM COMMENTS The outgoing CEO/GM, Tony Cunningham, shared a presentation that addressed the concerns given by the board at the June 10th meeting. Motion 1 Public Comment: Jim Konish Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Vice-Chair Haslam Motion: Adjust the budget as reflected in the presentation and as stated (see below for the specific language): Recommendation: Financial Impact: Unfund 27 position vacancies $3.31 million Correct over-budgeting of electric services (FY24/25) $1.8 million Increase FY24 recovery from city on IT SLA $6 million Zero-based budgeting impacts (12% of O&M budget) $1.58 million Eliminate IRP contract services Reduce overall professional services (20% of PS budget) $500,000 Eliminate natural gas rebates Total: $13.19 million Aye (5): Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Chair Lawson, and Robert Skinner Approved (5 to 0) K. ATTORNEY COMMENTS Public Comment: Jim Konish GRU Authority Attorney, Scott Walker, made some comments and then introduced the Folds Walker staff to the GRU Authority Board. 4  Attorney Kiersten Ballou provided an update on the memo directed to the Supervisor of Elections. Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Robert Skinner Authorize the incoming Chair, Mr. Lawson, to negotiate with the incoming GM/CEO Ed Bielarski, on the package as interim General Manager, and bring it back to the board at the next meeting. Whatever the board decides will go retroactive to day one. Aye (5): Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Chair Lawson, and Robert Skinner Approved (5 to 0) L. BUSINESS DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. 2024-486 Legal Services for GRU (B) The outgoing CEO/GM, Tony Cunningham, introduced the item. Director of Accounting and Finance for Utilities, Mark Benton, provided a presentation on the item to the GRU Authority. Public Comment: Jim Konish The board discussed the item and inquired of the current utility attorney, Folds Walker, for additional insight regarding the bill and external counsel. Moved by Craig Carter Seconded by Robert Skinner Recommendation: The GRU Authority hear from staff on the status of legal services for GRU staff and the Authority followed by a recommendation for GRU staff to send a request for an opinion to the Office of Attorney General Moody on GRU’s ability to retain separate legal counsel beyond the City Attorney and concurrently for GRU to hire a third party to review significant legal concerns. Aye (5): Chair Bielarski, Craig Carter, Vice-Chair Haslam, Chair Lawson, and Robert Skinner Approved (5 to 0) 5  2. 2024-487 Folds Walker Contract Extension (NB) Director of Accounting and Finance for Utilities, Mark Benton, spoke to the item. The board decided that the outgoing Chair, Ed Bielarski, would sign the extended contract. GRU Authority Attorney, Scott Walker, shared his opinion on the item. Recommendation: The GRU Authority hear an informational update only from GRU professionals on the previous GRUA Board’s request to retain and extend the current contract with Folds Walker, LLC. Heard M. DIRECTOR COMMENT The board shared different thoughts on various topics. The outgoing CEO/GM, Tony Cunningham, shared some thoughts. The board members shared some thoughts regarding the outgoing CEO/GM comments. N. ADJOURNMENT The outgoing Chair, Ed Bielarski, adjourned the meeting at 7:36pm _________________________ Christine Kunkel, GRUA Staff Liaison 6