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Public Utilities and Services Commission urges stronger, resourced utility oversight after water crisis
Summary
The Public Utilities and Services Commission chair presented the commission's October 2024 report, said the body lacks staffing and budget to fulfill oversight duties, and urged council and the mayor to consider enlarging audit capacity or an inspector-style office to provide sustained oversight.
Kevin Cafferini, chair of Richmond's Public Utilities and Services Commission, told the Governmental Operations Standing Committee on Jan. 13 that the commission's October 2024 report identified funding and staffing shortfalls that limit the body's ability to provide robust oversight of city utilities. He said the recent water outage exposed gaps and underscored the need for continuous, resourced oversight.
Cafferini said the commission was formed under city code in November 2023, that it has struggled to attain quorums while three seats were vacant, and that commissioners are volunteers who generally meet during…
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