Xavier Aguilar 
EDINBURG – Last Monday the Brownsville Public Utilities Board held a special board meeting to discuss the current C.E.O. after a forensic report.
In a nearly four-hour executive session, the board placed C.E.O. John Bruciak on 60-day administrative leave with pay. This decision came after an outcry from Brownsville residents.
“We have people that cannot pay their PUB bills and if you go all the way back to the beginning. We are talking about a 42 percent rate hike. We are talking about severe misrepresentation. Theft by deception,” said a Brownsville business owner, Susan Rubalcava.
The Tenaska audit released by the city commissioners showed B-P-U-B’S failed a $118-million power plant project that customers were still funding.
According to the Carr, Riggs, and Ingram forensic report, “The series of rate hikes increased the electrical rates by a total of 36 percent over four years or 41.67-percent when compared to pre-project rates.”
“Many of them are telling me, well I take my medication every other day. I can’t afford it every day so I’m going to make it last, and I say, ‘You can’t do that you could have a stroke. You have to take your blood pressure medication every day,” said oncologist, Laura Cisneros, who voiced concern for elderly residents and those on a fixed income, and the many sacrifices they must make.
In an October 11th press release, B-P-U-B states, “We feel it prudent to allow those listed in the report a specified period of time to respond to the opinions and allegations specified in the audit.”
The statement also says mentioned Brownsville P.U.B. will conduct an expedited review of the audit either internally or with the help of outside professionals. The Director Of Operational Support Services, Jaime Estrada, will take over as interim C.E.O.
