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Water Department

Dear Editor,

I’d like to respond to an opinion article on Sept. 1, regarding the Village of Bridgeport’s Water Department.

For 10 years (1981-1991), I was the clerk for the Village of Bridgeport and worked with the superintendent of the Water Department.

At that time, we also had the board of trustees of public affairs. The opinion article said: “Village council was left out of the loop with the water board’s operation.”

This is not correct. The water board worked with council and I know this to be a fact since I took the minutes at all council meetings so I was there when they attended. They kept council up-to-date on their plans, asked for permission when they wanted to make a major purchase such as a new truck, back hoe, etc. I was responsible for paying all village bills including the Water Department bills and completed the payroll for both.

At each council meeting, I presented all the bills and time cards for council approval. They not only reviewed them, they initialed their approval of each bill and time card. During my tenure, I can’t remember one instance when overtime was not approved for Water Department employees because council knew when there was a water break or a major occurrence that required overtime. Council had passed an ordinance to allow for overtime for all village employees, including the water department.

The Water Department superintendent and I met at the end of each month to make sure our books balanced. He was very diligent in building the water department fund so that we would have the money needed to make the huge loan payment for the new water plant. That payment was made the 10 years I was the clerk.

Having a Board of Trustees of Public Affairs, which was a board of three elected by the people of the village, worked very well. Water Fund money could not be transferred to the general fund.

The opinion piece pointed out the bottom line is for the people of Bridgeport to be part of the decision making process and let council know their stance. We did that several years ago, when the issue was put on the ballot and the people of Bridgeport voted to continue with the Board of Public Affairs.

However, the village disregarded the voice of our citizens and appointed an administrator which is not an elected position. I know from previous experience that a Board of Public Affairs – Water Board can work very effectively and save the village money.

Carole Lyle

Bridgeport

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