Former DU board members to give guidance

Published 11:50 pm Monday, April 16, 2007

The governing board of Dalton Utilities will have more guidance from its former members in the future.

Board members on Monday approved a change to the utility’s bylaws allowing a former member who served as board chairman during the last year of his or her term to serve as an adviser to the commission for one year after the person’s term expires. The change will allow the former board member “to provide insight and perspective on all matters considered by the board.”

The adviser may also attend meetings, but will not vote.

John Neal, legal counsel for Dalton Utilities, said the change was “consistent with an organization of this size.”

“It’s not uncommon for the immediate past chair to have a position as a continuing adviser to the board,” Neal said.

Board members are appointed by the Dalton City Council. The chairman is elected by the board members during their January meeting. Norman Burkett is the current board chairman. The change begins with the election of officers in January 2008.

The board approved another change to its bylaws allowing the person who served as board chairman to preside over the election of officers even if his or term has expired. After the election, the newly-elected chairman will preside over the meeting.

“This is the procedure that we’ve followed for a couple of years now, and since we amended the bylaws it was just an appropriate time to go ahead and make formal that procedure,” Neal said.

The board also approved putting out to bid an estimated $8.1 million overhaul of an aerobic digester system, which is a step in the treatment of wastewater. Bids for the project are due on May 17.

The board’s next meeting will be May 21 at 11 a.m. at 1200 V.D. Parrott Jr. Parkway. The meeting is open to the public.