Learn more about your PUD and its board

I appreciate David Chan’s suggestion in his Dec. 30 letter to the editor that we increase the number of Snohomish County PUD board members from three to five. For several years I have encouraged this, and the change is now being researched and considered. However, I need to address several points from Mr. Chan’s letter:

The Dec. 15 vote to re-elect Commissioner Sid Logan to a third year as board president was not unanimous; it was 2-1 with my “no” vote.

While I do represent environmental interests, I also work for fiscal responsibility and proper oversight. I am keenly aware of our budget and the interworking of all departments.

There may be some confusion regarding the Open Public Meetings Act. On a three-member Board, two persons constitute a majority. To avoid the appearance of meeting outside a public meeting, no two members of a three-member board are allowed to discuss even the most mundane topics.

All PUDs of which I am aware do practice regular rotation of board officers’ positions, and although policies or state laws do not require that, it is considered fair and appropriate to do so. Regular rotation helps prevent a Board’s becoming stagnant and truly represents all constituents across our 2200 square-mile service district.

The PUD does not provide broadband telecommunications services.

I encourage any of our customer-owners (the voters who elect the board members) to contact me or any other board member to inquire further about our PUD. Instructions for joining our bi-monthly, virtual Board meetings and/or listening to recorded past meetings are located on our website: www.SnoPUD.com/Commission. In January we’ll meet on the afternoon of Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m. and on January 19 at 9 a.m. with both morning and afternoon sessions. The Public Comment period begins at 1:30 p.m.

The business of SnoPUD is important and interesting, so I hope you’ll join our meetings.

Rebecca J. Wolfe

SnoPUD Commissioner, District 2

Edmonds