Orange County NC Website
Page 4 of 5 Michael Hughes <br />Orange Water & Sewer Authority Board of Directors <br />Please list/explain your experience, either professionally and/or from other <br />boards/commissions that you have in the areas of budget, personnel, and management. <br />During my tenure with the Public Works Department at the City of Durham I was a key member <br />of a the team that developed and managed a capital improvement budget in excess of $100M <br />for projects similar to OWASA. Previously during my prior appointment to the OWASA Board I <br />served as Chair of the Human Resources Committee where we facilitated the staff to make <br />substantial improvements to the compensation structure and benefits, notably health insurance. <br />In addition to the experience listed in the question above, please list the work/volunteer <br />experience/qualifications that would add to your expertise for this board. <br />APWA – Public Works Executive Candidate, July 2012 <br />Durham Engineers Club, President, 2009-2013 <br />United States Navy ROTC Scholarship – University of Notre Dame <br />United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate <br />Graduate Research Assistantships - University of North Carolina <br />Executive Leadership Institute â €“ City of Durham <br />What do you see as the responsibilities of this board, and what do you hope to <br />accomplish if appointed? <br />The responsibilities of the OWASA Board are to adopt the annual budget; set rates, fees and <br />charges based on cost-of-service principles; approve bond issues to fund capital projects; make <br />policy decisions; and appoint the Executive Director, General Counsel and independent auditor. <br />As a member of the Board I desire to continue the initiatives that were started during my <br />previous tenure on energy use, the long-range water supply plan, the strategic plan, and human <br />resources matters. In addition, I will work with fellow Board members to ensure that the staff <br />has the focus and means so that we never have a water supply disruption as we did this year. <br />What is OWASA's role in growth/development issues? <br />OWASA and the Board of Directors do not take a lead role in growth and development issues. <br />For the most part those are policy matters concerning growth, land-use, zoning and related <br />ordinances reserved for the Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County governments. <br />However, OWASA does take on a supporting role in areas listed in the paragraphâ €™s which <br />follow. This supporting role enables the planners, visionaries and developers to move forward <br />with projects consistent with the policies and ordinances, as approved by the elected officials in <br />the jurisdictions. <br />First, to advise Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County on the sustainable long-term water <br />supply available from the primary water resources; namely, the Cane Creek and University Lake <br />watersheds augmented by the stone quarry as a storage reservoir after it becomes available and <br />online after 2035. <br />Secondly, to ensure that water supply and wastewater facilities, including but not limited to the <br />treatment plants, storage tanks, underground piping, pump stations and sludge disposal <br />operations are always online, well-maintained, and performing in a manner that exceeds <br />industry and regulatory standards. <br />Thirdly, to ensure that system infrastructure enumerated above has capacity to serve not only <br />the residents, but also the planned development in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. This will <br />necessitate, as appropriate, the replacement and upgrading of physical facilities through the CIP <br />program, funded by bonds when necessary, as well as the engineering review and rigorous <br />inspection of the water and sewer infrastructure, designed and constructed by others, which <br />extends OWASA service to new development approved by Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange <br />County. <br />23