Thursday, March 1, 2007

No More Perks for Water Authority

As we posted yesterday, NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo determined that health insurance benefits for current and retired state housing authority members were null and void.

Monroe County Water Authority board members do not receive state health insurance, but they are eligible for Medicare and state pensions. The health benefits are supplied courtesy of the Rochester taxpayer.

This practice is just as unacceptable, and yes, illegal, at the county level as it is at the state level. Appointed board members should not be able to compensate themselves, with no criteria, as the voter has no way to hold those members accountable. Also, as we have seen, authority boards tend to be prizes for political cronies.

The Water Buffalo Press has contacted Cuomo's office to see what effect this ruling may have, if any, at the county level.

Ed Marianetti, Executive Director of the Monroe County Water Authority, said he was aware of the AG's judgement but had not read the letter. Marianetti stated that he did not believe Cuomo's judgement applied to the MCWA, but qualified that statement by pointing out that he is not a lawyer. Marianetti expected to review the issue further upon the return of the MWCA's lead legal counsel from a conference in Texas.

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