The New York State Senate last month confirmed the appointment of J. Chester Johnson, president of Government Finance Associates Inc., to the board of directors of the state's Environmental Facilities Corp.
Mr. Johnson, the founder and principal owner of the financial advisory firm Government Finance Associates, is expected to serve on the board for a term that expires Dec. 31, 1995.
The board of directors, which now has six of its seven seats filled, is the corporation's policy-making body and is required to approve its bond sales.
Because the corporation is a bond-issuing entity and Mr. Johnson is involved with municipal finance activities, Terry Agriss, president of the corporation, said, "We will be very cautious with any situation" that comes before the board.
She noted that Mr. Johnson "would excuse himself from the proceedings" on issues that raise the specter of a conflict of interest, especially if one of Mr. Jonson's clients were involved. She added, however, that "a large part of his business is outside of New York State."
Other members of the board of directors are Victoria S. Kennedy, formerly with the Environmental Protection Agency and now a environmental consultant who was confirmed as a board member in June; Lorna S. McBarnette, acting health state health commissioner; Thomas C. Jorling, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation; Gail Shaffer, secretary of state; and Mr. Baker, a private member of the board and an attorney from New York City.
The corporation was established and named the Environmental Facilities Corp. in 1970 in a metamorphosis from it previous identity as the Pure Waters Authority.
