After testimony from current and former employees and members of the Board of Water Supply, the Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee has advanced the resolution to put the Board of Water Supply back under administrative control.

Committee Chair Romy Cachola recommended that action, saying that it shouldn’t be interpreted necessarily as support but rather as an indication of the tight deadlines for getting a charter amendment on the 2012 ballot. Ernie Martin, Tom Berg, Ann Kobayashi, Tulsi Gabbard and Stanley Chang joined him in support.

Vice Chair Breene Harimoto opposed the measure. He said the problems were in the past, and that the new manager will work hard to change the culture. He also said he was concerned about the risk of inserting politics in water issues.

Nestor Garcia cited HART‘s semiautonomy in arguing against the resolution, and said the only water pressure he’s interested in is the kind coming out of the faucet. He even floated the idea of — dramatic pause — privatization.

The resolution now goes back to the full City Council for another reading.

(Photo: Civil Beat’s Flickr page)