14 Jul OWASA Board of Directors Meeting Summary for July 9
OWASA’s Board of Directors met virtually on Thursday, July 9, 2020, and considered an agenda that included a resolution honoring outgoing Executive Director Ed Kerwin for his 24 years of service and congratulating him on his retirement, receiving an update on OWASA’s response to COVID-19, and receiving an update on OWASA’s Diversity and Inclusion program.
The Board of Directors is currently meeting virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Retirement Celebration
The Board approved a resolution honoring Ed Kerwin for his 24 years of service as OWASA’s Executive Director and congratulating him on retirement. The Board also voted to name the training room in the OWASA Operations Center as the Ed Kerwin Team Room. Kerwin’s last day with OWASA was July 10.
Conservation Easement
The Board authorized staff to move forward with developing a potential conservation easement on private land in the Cane Creek Watershed. The potential easement would provide for expanded, permanently protected buffers along a stream running through private land near Cane Creek Reservoir. Staff will bring information back to the Board before final approval is given.
EPA Compliance Agreement
The Board received an updated on OWASA’s compliance agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency. OWASA has received grants from the EPA in the past and as such is subject to review by the EPA of its compliance with various federal laws and regulations.
Pandemic Response
The Board received an update on OWASA’s response to COVID-19 and a phased plan for returning to normal operations. OWASA continues to take proactive measures to ensure we provide the community with high-quality and reliable water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Board received an update on OWASA’s Diversity and Inclusion work. These updates are provided three times per year. The work since the last update in January 2020 has included: continuing progress toward developing a training module for mandatory, annual employee training; implementing staff meetings where Team members can check in and discuss non-work-related topics; in early June, Black supervisors were invited to an informal meeting with Executive Director Ed Kerwin and Director of Human Resources and Safety Stephanie Glasgow to discuss recent events regarding social justice; all OWASA Team members were invited to voluntary open forums in June to discuss recent events regarding social justice; the Board of Directors in June adopted a resolution affirming OWASA’s Diversity and Inclusion values and supporting a community free of hatred.
Next Meeting
The Board agreed to cancel its July 23, 2020, Board meeting. The Board will hold its next meeting remotely on Thursday, August 13, 2020, via Microsoft Teams at 6 p.m.; a link will be provided here.
OWASA’s administrative office is closed to the public to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Customers in need of assistance can still contact OWASA from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling (919) 968-4421, emailing customerinquiries@owasa.org, or using the chat function available in the bottom-right corner of the web page. Please allow for additional time for OWASA staff to respond during this time. We appreciate your patience.