At a recent Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association (NSWCA) Special Training Session hosted by Westbury Water District Commissioners Vincent Abbatiello, Kenneth O. Jones and William C. Olson, municipal law expert Michael F. Ingham, Esq. of Carman, Callahan & Ingham LLP (Farmingdale, NY) addressed the assemblage on the topic of “Water Commissioner Management Powers and Responsibilities”.
Mr. Ingham focused on the legal duties and powers of elected commissioners. He began with a historical perspective that included a discussion of the Kirkland Act. Mr. Ingham then discussed the powers of Water Commissioners set forth in Town Law §215 and a special State statute empowering local water districts set forth the in the Nassau County Civil Divisions Act. The Training Module also included appropriate subjects to be conducted in Executive Sessions and the requirement that Work Sessions be open to the public. The subsequent Q&A brought deeper discussion of several interrelated topics.
NSWCA President Thomas P. Hand commented, “This is the latest installment of our Continuing Education and Training Series. The hands on sessions delve into important governance issues that concern all commissioners, superintendents and professional personnel from commissioner-elected water districts. Mr. Ingham’s extensive field knowledge and his ability to interpret complex laws and regulations in a way that could be readily absorb by the group was greatly appreciated by all those in attendance.”
Mr. Ingham is a graduate of Hamilton College. He received a Masters’ in Public Administration from New York University and earned his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. He joined Carman, Callahan & Ingham in 1981 and specializes in municipal law, complex insurance coverage litigation and Appellate Practice.