Pledge: Gary McCauley
Prayer: Pat DeVito
Song: No Bill no song
Brents Card Game Winner: Charlie Renshaw
Sergeants Report: Pete Zucco
Guests: Rotarians Dick & Joyce Mason from Clinton
Raffle winners: Charlie R (prize donated by Dick & Joyce Mason), Alan S, Pat D
Happy Bucks: Lots for the Torchlight Parade and our 32nd year of hosting the hospitality tent, Gary for Rotarians joining him ringing the Salvation Army bell for several hours, our guests, the holidays, Joan is a great grandma!, the ideals of Rotary!, 9 days of Christmas
Many thanks to Dick & Joyce for purchasing 2 tickets to our Wine Tasting!
Program: Bill O'Shaughnessy
Bill started by saying that he has been a CT Water Company (CTWS) customer for 20 years and found out just 8 weeks ago that they are in the process of selling themselves to a company based in California. Our water supply apparently, is for sale! The company has received "Provisional Approval" to sell out to SJWG, a California based holding company whose stated goal is to: (a) buy other smaller water companies and (b) move all management decisions and control to California and (c) close most local facilities. What are the risks and why should you care? The following is copied from Bill's presentation:
According to the CTWS website, they serve more the 395,000 people in 56 towns! (see attached list of towns). CTWS water is primarily located along major streets and highways…which is also where MOST SCHOOLS, AND TOWN ADMIN, POLICE, FIRE DEPTS are located. Summary ; it is realistic to assume that all or most School Budgets and Town Budgets in most or all of the 56 Towns will be negatively affected. Now we are talking, not just about ratepayers, but every taxpayer and every voter!
In my research, I learned a new fact I hadn’t even considered; ie. that all Fire Hydrants are also charged to the towns by CTWS. I have only researched two towns thus far: one is paying almost $500,000 / year; the other almost $600,000 just for their Fire Hydrants!
A review of the Acquisition Agreement reveals it strongly benefits Shareholders over Tax Payers, School & Towns Budgets, School Children, and Public & Private Rate Payers; and continues to be IN VIOLATION of at least Three Conn State Statues;
1. Conn.Gen. Statue S16-22 (Public Interest): in fact, in principle, and in spirit. Also,
2. Conn.Gen. Statue S16-11 (Local Control) of Public Utilities.
- “Burden of proving Change of Control was in the Public Interest” There are many of the 80 +- “Required Commitments” where PURA responses included “Several Concerns” such as “Managerial Suitability”; commitment’s NOT in the Public Interest; Future Rate payer are very likely to be negatively affected; The Ability to Enforce it is debatable; No commitment to Dividend restrictions ………i.e. ” may extract Capital to the determent of CTWS ratepayers”; No commitment to base rate freezes; Proposed “limits” to Future Customer Services; “Proposed benefit assumptions NOT supported by the records”; and much more.
- “Conn Gen. S16-11 addressing keeping Local Control of Public Utilities”: Applicant has already stated it plans to immediately Transfer all Management Control and Decisions to California. To be soon followed by Closing most of the Local Facilities (with no commitment to status of 221 employees)!
- “Conn Gen. S16-47(d)(1) Managerial Suitability & Responsibility (of SJWG)”: The Authority ID’d several concerns with respect to SJWG’s suitability to manage CTWS, including a disproportionate focus on shareholder return, Board of Director representation, and a lack of binding commitment to maintain local mgt and staff.
- And: Commitment 44 provides that “If the Applicants are in noncompliance of any of the Commitments”, at any time, They must file a plan for review and approval with the Authority…..
Why Should You care ??
I hope you have been listening… because unlike Banking, or TV, etc where users have alternatives, Tax Payers and Customers of CTWS/SJWG (soon to be just SJWG in California) have NO ALTERNATIVE TO this PUBLIC MONOPLY .
There are many new risks today that were not a problem decades ago.
- The behavior of Wall street is very different now!
- Climate Change has been proven to be VERY REAL and on nightly TV!
Wild Fires over much of California & elsewhere, storms, flooding & destruction are more violent and frequent across our planet;
Law Suits over Water Rights and Access in many states and countries!
It will take a coordinated effort to at least have a real discussion of the risks and alternatives … before absolute control of our Drinking Water Supply is decided.
Tax Payers and Voters ARE ENTITLED from Officials in every affected Town, City and the State, from any party, to an answer to “WHAT DID YOU DO TO help PREVENT THIS??!”
Hopefully this can accomplished ASAP by filing a multi-town coordinated Temporary Stop Order… (RE: Commitment 44 “ existing Violation of CT Statutes”)… giving some time for town officials, the legislature, CTDEEP, and the public, to examine risks and alternatives.
The CT Attorney General: Previously Stated re: PURA Document No.019-04-02: Page 5, Section 6: …..“The AG agreed that the commitments and conditions set forth in the Proposed Acquisition and Settlement Agreement furthers the public interest and, therefore, the AG has no objection to the proposed conditions and commitments should PURA decide to approve the Application.”
If you also agree this is NOT TRUE, then a legal Stop Order request should be immediately filed with current AG William Tong to Temporarily Withdraw his Approval and to allow at least 60 to 90 days for Town Officials, the Legislature, the AG, and the Public, to examine and fully understand the Risks and possible alternatives.
Other Club Business:
Marty gave a report on the Torchlight Parade. It went well. Thank you's are being mailed by Gary to the vendors. Go to the following link for Marty's report: Torchlight Parade 2019
Gary, Nathan and Devin spent time Saturday to ring the bell for the Salvation Army at Stop & Shop. Because they are from Old Saybrook, 90% of the funds go toward causes in our town.
Due to the cancelling of our last meeting, Student of the Month for Social Studies will take place Jan. 8 combined with Students of the Month for Science.
Gary is looking into other venues that we can have meetings at particularly Westbrook.
Gary plans on attending PETS (Rotary training for president) in March.
The meeting of Jan 22 will be a dinner meeting and we shall be awarding 3 Paul Harris awards. You don't want to miss it. The place is Old Lyme Country Club, $40pp cash bar
Some sad news, our president, Brian DeBlasiis announced in a letter that he will be moving to Georgia and is stepping down as president. Gary will be taking over. Brian did a great job leading with a firm and steady hand. We all wish Brian best of luck in his new home and career working in the prosecutors office. Here is Brian's letter:
Good afternoon,
As I am sure some of you are aware, I was recently offered a position in Georgia that I have accepted. This position will allow me to return to criminal prosecution and be closer to my family. Two things that are very important to me.
It is with deep regret that my decision means that I will not be able to finish out my term as President of the Club. I have been tremendously proud of my time in Rotary. It was an honor to serve the Club with Sam, Kathy, John, and Charlie during such a difficult time two years ago. That experience, and the time that I spent with all of you, has given me a deep appreciation and admiration for Rotary as an organization. I look forward to joining another Club as soon as I am settled in my new home.
I wish all of you well, and I thank you for all of the support that you have always given to me personally and professionally. It was an honor getting to know all of you and calling you friends. If anyone is ever in the Hilton Head area please reach out. I’d love to meet and catch up.
All the best,
Brian
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