SAWS CEO resigns at monthly board meeting

The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) board of trustees on Tuesday accepted the resignation of President and CEO David E. Chardavoyne at its regular board meeting.

Board members accepted Chardavoyne's resignation after acknowledging that both parties had a competing vision over the future of San Antonio's water and wastewater utility.

"We all recognize that there is a difference between the management style and direction of the system which has been provided by Mr. Chardavoyne and what is now desired by the board," Chairman Alex Briseno says.

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Chardavoyne's resignation date is effective May 31, 2008. In the meantime, former State Rep. Robert Puente has been named interim president and CEO. The board also signed him to a six-month contract with a $137,500 salary.

The board adopted a resolution Tuesday morning recognizing Chardavoyne's achievements at SAWS during his tenure, including:

• Meeting and exceeding the board's eight strategic multi-year goals and expectations set in September of 2004;
• Assembling a task force to review the $2.8 billion water supply plan first developed in 1998 and updated in 2005. This review reduced capital costs by $700 million.
• Negotiating an amended water provision agreement with Forestar that allowed the PGA Tour Development to proceed.
• Saving ratepayers a cumulative $75 million in 2008 by reducing operation and maintenance expenses and debt service between 2005 and 2007.

"It has been an honor to work with the dedicated employees of SAWS and the community to implement improvements and projects that will benefit San Antonio long-term," Chardavoyne says. "It is with great pride in the strategic, financial and other contributions that we have achieved over the past three-and-a-half years that I depart from SAWS."

SAWS provides water and wastewater services to more than 1 million customers in the San Antonio area.