BUFFALO, N.Y. — Following the New York State Authorities Budget Office's scathing report on the Erie County Water Authority last week, County Executive Mark Poloncarz issued his own recommendations Friday that he believes will make the agency more accountable.

His first proposal is to increase the size of the board from three members to seven, and have them be appointed by three separate entities.

"Two by the Governor, two by the County Executive and three by the County Legislature," Poloncarz said.

Only Erie and Niagara Counties have three-member boards and the average statewide is seven.

Poloncarz would also like the term to be increased from three years to five.

Both moves are aimed at keeping stability regardless of which political party has the majority.

"My initial inclination was to create seven members with seven-year terms, but the Authorities Budget Office said they thought that was too long. And they said five is okay with them," Poloncarz said.

He adds that the initial appointments would be staggered so their terms are not all up at same time.

He also recommends that current chairman, Jerome Schad, be retained despite the ABO report calling for him to resign within the next 10 days.

The authority already has parted ways with Earl Jann, its executive director, days after the report was published. 

Schad is expected to address the Erie County Legislature's Energy & Environment Committee next Thursday.

"I think it was fair what was said yesterday, which was bring Mr. Schad over to the legislature and have him answer the questions," Poloncarz said.

Poloncarz is also calling on the Water Authority to:

• create a six-year capital plan to address infrastructure issues; 
• compel the Authority's executive director and chairman to hold quarterly meetings at the Erie County Legislative Chambers;
• prohibit employment contracts for more than five years; 
• eliminate "golden parachute" contracts; 
• reduce Commissioners' stipends from $22,500 to $7,500 and 
• require quarterly reports that would be submitted to the County Executive, Comptroller and Legislature.

"Not just financial reports, but also reports of all operational activities including the hiring and termination of employees and the contracts that entered into with third parties for any goods or services," Poloncarz said.

The proposals can only become law through a "home rule" message, where the County Legislature and County Executive sign off on a document and deliver it to the Assembly and Senate.

It could then be passed, at the earliest, in the new legislative session in January.

Poloncarz says he believes this would be a better, and more cost-effective, path forward than dissolving the ECWA