City Manager Doyon suggested that the ECP board and the City Commissioners become more intimately involved in the dealings with SME.
I don't see how the ECP board getting more involved can be a positive thing.
The ECP board is supposed to be an advisory board to the City Commission. To date, they have been pretty much a board in name only. In fairness though, it's hard to advise if folks are not getting information because of supposed proprietary and confidential reasons. Be that as it may, there are other problems:
1. Conflict of interest of the board itself - Even if by a minor miracle the City bails out of HGS, ECP will still exist. ECP is the electrical arm of the city. Various businesses, pilot program participants and the city get their power through SME. The Electric Fund pays SME for this power.
2. The following board members have conflicts of interest and other problems:
A. George Golie, Chair, - Is a member of the pilot program and the union, which is supposed to be getting most of the jobs constructing HGS.
B. Dawn Willey, Vice-chair - It is my understanding she works for Benefis. Benefis receives their power from ECP, which receives it from SME. She also has missed more than three meetings.
C. Randy Gray - Former mayor of Great Falls and member of the pilot program. He also has missed more than three meetings.
D. William Ryan - Member of the pilot program
E. Robert Pancich, former chair - A few years ago admitted he didn't know anything about electrical markets.
Tim Gregori has been in this business for several years. From what I've heard, there's currently nobody on this board anywhere close to his level of knowledge to be able to intelligently challenge his statements.
So, as it currently stands, how in the world can this group even come close to being unbiased in their assessments of SME and give appropriate advise to the commissioners?
I don't see it happening.
I don't see how the ECP board getting more involved can be a positive thing.
The ECP board is supposed to be an advisory board to the City Commission. To date, they have been pretty much a board in name only. In fairness though, it's hard to advise if folks are not getting information because of supposed proprietary and confidential reasons. Be that as it may, there are other problems:
1. Conflict of interest of the board itself - Even if by a minor miracle the City bails out of HGS, ECP will still exist. ECP is the electrical arm of the city. Various businesses, pilot program participants and the city get their power through SME. The Electric Fund pays SME for this power.
2. The following board members have conflicts of interest and other problems:
A. George Golie, Chair, - Is a member of the pilot program and the union, which is supposed to be getting most of the jobs constructing HGS.
B. Dawn Willey, Vice-chair - It is my understanding she works for Benefis. Benefis receives their power from ECP, which receives it from SME. She also has missed more than three meetings.
C. Randy Gray - Former mayor of Great Falls and member of the pilot program. He also has missed more than three meetings.
D. William Ryan - Member of the pilot program
E. Robert Pancich, former chair - A few years ago admitted he didn't know anything about electrical markets.
Tim Gregori has been in this business for several years. From what I've heard, there's currently nobody on this board anywhere close to his level of knowledge to be able to intelligently challenge his statements.
So, as it currently stands, how in the world can this group even come close to being unbiased in their assessments of SME and give appropriate advise to the commissioners?
I don't see it happening.
2 comments:
When they do show up, they haven't done their homework and virtually 'spoon fed' by the director..Mr. Pancich the brightest of 'em all and has best attendance and realizes the dire financial situation of Highwood. As for the rest, they might as well stay home and watch 'American Idol' if they're not going to seriously deliberate and function as a proper board by their own by-laws.
ECP is a big sham and needs to be terminated pronto. The ECP "board" is a disgrace in self interest and conflict of interests.
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