A bipartisan duo of county legislators are calling on the commissioner of the embattled Erie County Water Authority to resign.

This comes on the heels of a New York State Authorities Budget Office report criticizing the water board, and recommending everyone on it over the two years of the investigation be replaced.

The only remaining member, Jerome Schad, is now commissioner. Minority Leader Joe Lorigo, a Conservative, and legislator Tom Loughran, a Democrat, are now asking Schad step down.

 

 

"Findings were damning and the recommendations were that Mr. Schad should be removed from office if possible,” Lorigo said. “This is the first step we can take in that effect and we believe Commissioner Schad should resign based on his behavior, complacence and actions while serving as commissioner in that time period."

And with the slate clean the pair says they will look into having the Water Authority absorbed into county government.

"To fold this into a county department, the antics of late, there would be more accountability," Loughran added. "People could be fired, elected officials who went along with it could be fired."

The ECWA fired its executive director, Earl Jann, just days ago – just months after approving a new contract for him despite the controversy surrounding the water board.

What is the Erie County Water Authority?

  • It is an independent agency
  • Manages and provides water to roughly 20 towns adjacent to City of Buffalo
  • More than 165K residential and commercial customers
  • 3 commissioners on board, and president
  • Members are appointed for three-year terms by county legislature
  • Board members are compensated

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