If the proposed mayoral appointments are approved by the Jamestown City Council later this month, three Jamestown Board of Public Utilities board members who wanted to continue their service will no longer be associated with the nine-member group.

Earlier this month, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist’s submission of appointments and concilmanic assignments were announced during the Jamestown City Council inaugural meeting. During the announcement, which was immediately tabled for a vote until the council’s Monday, Jan. 31, meeting, community representatives Greg Rabb and James Olson and councilwoman Marie Carrubba were not reappointed to the BPU board by Sundquist.

Rabb, who has served as the board chairman for four years and has been a member of the board for 14 years, said it’s disappointing that, if approved by the council, he will no longer be able to continue to serve the BPU.

“If I’m leaving I didn’t get a chance to thank the board and the staff for their work. I’m really disappointed that I’m not going to be able to continue the work. One of the gems of Jamestown is the BPU. It’s a real asset and we don’t want to lose that,” he said.

Rabb said in November he sent a letter and email to Sundquist requesting to be reappointed to the board.

“I would like to think I was doing a professional job and I’m experienced,” he said.

Rabb also said he doesn’t agree with Sundquist’s decision not to reappoint Olson or Carrubba as well. He said Olson has several decades of experience in finance as a CPA and Carrubba, an attorney who advocates for the disabled, does a quality job chairing the Personnel Committee.

“I don’t like the idea of anyone messing with the BPU and the mayor, and the way he is handling this, is messing with the BPU,” Rabb said. “The bottom line is I don’t want anyone messing with the BPU. It’s too damn good.”

Carrubba said she did let the mayor know she would like to continue serving the council on the BPU board, which she has done since 2018 when former Mayor Sam Teresi appointed her to the board. She was reappointed to the board in 2020 by Sundquist when he took over as mayor.

“I wanted to see some projects through like dealing with renewable energy and dealing with the annexation,” she said. “There has been a push for electric vehicles and I’m pleased to see how many charging stations (the BPU has) and how clearly marked they are. It makes us look like a city on the move and that we’re being progressive.”

Carrubba said she was honored to serve on the board and wishes the staff and board continued success.

“I cannot say enough good things about the staff. They are very open and helpful in dealing with every aspect,” she said. “(Earlier this year) when Buffalo and Erie County had power outages because of high winds, as far as I know, no one lost power here. It’s a credit to their foresight in dealing with the trees and structures on power lines and all they have done to make sure we don’t lose power during high wind events and inclement weather.”

Olson, who was appointed to the board in 2019, said he also notified Sundquist that he would like to be reappointed to the board. He said, as being the former city finance director and clerk, he has worked with the BPU on a regular basis since 1981, except for when he worked for the city of Warren, Pa., from 1994-99. Olson said that Rabb and Carrubba also have several years of BPU experience.

“Losing that experience I think is a big concern especially with everything going on like the annexation and renewable energy,” he said. “I think it’s going to be difficult for the individuals coming on to the board who don’t have that experience. It’s detrimental to the board.”

Sundquist told The Post-Journal that he wants to thank Carrubba, Olson and Rabb for their service to the BPU and the expertise and talent they volunteered over the years. However, he said that bringing in new people with new ideas is the new direction he wants for the BPU board.

“When I started my time in office I made the promise to bring in new leaders and shake up our boards and commissions to represent all parts of the community. This is part of the process,” he said. “The individuals leaving the board have provided great insight over the years, but I’m moving the utility company in a new direction.”

The proposed new appointments to the board include Sean Connor and Sabrina Gustafson. Sundquist said Connor is senior vice president and CFO of Cattaraugus County Bank. He is a Jamestown Community College graduate with an MBA from St. Bonaventure, who is also a Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Grant Selection Committee volunteer. Gustafson owns and operates a language translation business and notary service. Sundquist said she is a former social welfare examiner for the county and has also worked for the Jamestown Public Schools District as a health and attendance clerk. She also served on the city’s search committee for a new police chief.

“Sean and Sabrina are really incredible examples of leaders coming up in the community who are trying to better what we have here in the city of Jamestown,” Sundquist said. “I’m excited to put their names forward for appointment. I’m excited to have new talent on the BPU board.”

Sundquist said he doesn’t know if the council will approve his proposed appointments at their voting session meeting, but he will work closely with any member before the meeting on informing them of the selections he has made.

“All the candidates, whether they are a new appointee or they are being reappointed, are well-qualified and will represent our community well. I appreciate them stepping up to do so,” he said.