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minutes 10-27-99Page 8 of 48
<br />of operations could be streamlined and some cost reduction could be achieved, so it’s kind of like how
<br />do you envision the merger taking place. If both sides are so entrenched into I want to keep only my
<br />operation because that’s how it’s traditionally been handled, and they’ve got mechanics, but their
<br />mechanics not going to work on our stuff, so we’ve got to have our own mechanics. Well, there’s
<br />similar systems, or efficiencies that could be achieved, I think, if you look outside of that and try to
<br />integrate, and if you were just to create something from scratch, there could be possibly cost reductions
<br />achieved that way.
<br />The other thing I’d like to say, in addition to those, there are municipalities in the mainland that have
<br />gone through this. We’re not inventing the wheel here. In some of the research that I’ve done, even
<br />within the Water Association, there are different studies that have been done. I just haven’t had a chance
<br />to get a hold of them to know whether they have achieved any of these cost reductions, or other
<br />advantages that were initially presented. I think it’s healthy to even look at this, for the Commission to
<br />consider this possibly, and I’m sure there will be other spin offs or other issues that we can address, but
<br />anyway, Chairman Ray, that’s basically all I wanted to present.
<br />RAY: Now, Mr. Souza, would you like to say anything on behalf of the Water Commission? I’d like to
<br />ask you directly, if the Water Commission concurs with Mr. Pavao’s recommendations, or letter, or
<br />representations. I know you folks have been discussing this at the Commission level, so I’d like to get
<br />that on the record, how you feel about this.
<br />SOUZA: Thank you. Yes, we did discuss, and Commissioners do concur with the staff in the
<br />discussions that took place. The consensus is that they should remain separate.
<br />RAY: In terms of the billing, did you discuss that?
<br />SOUZA: Yes, and the Water Department will be able to accommodate in the very near future.
<br />RAY: In terms of any additional Commission responsibilities, did you folks discuss that?
<br />SOUZA: Additional responsibilities?
<br />RAY: In regard to if you were to look at Wastewater or, I just wondered if you discussed that dynamic. I
<br />mean, obviously, the rate structure is the major issue here.
<br />SOUZA: I believe there would still be more to discuss should that take place. There are many things,
<br />yes, that we are not familiar with as far as the sewers go.
<br />RAY: I’d like to open this up for discussion, so Milton, if you could come back up to the table.
<br />PAVAO: Can I make a few comments?
<br />RAY: Oh, sure, yes. And then also, Peter, if you’ve got anything you want to say.
<br />BOUCHER: I’ve got a summary of some pros and cons. Maybe I should put them out on the table too.
<br />PAVAO: I’d like to just make a few comments. What Mr. Sumada listed as pros, if you look on my pros
<br />and cons, it’s also listed as pros. I recognize those facts that Mr. Sumada well explained, and they are
<br />pros condition, very good for everybody. However, our feeling is that the cons greatly outweighs the
<br />pros. As far as the billing, and Mr. Sumada will believe it when he sees it, and I hope you get to see it
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