Suffolk County Water Authority Chairman James F. Gaughran and New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. at Assemblyman Thiele’s Bridgehampton office with the New York State legislation signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo last fall that allows unpaid SCWA customer balances to be placed as liens on property tax bills, thereby allowing SCWA to recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars per year that otherwise would ultimately be paid by ratepayers who pay their bills on time. The legislation, which gives SCWA the same rights as municipal water districts, was sponsored by Assemblyman Thiele and State Senator Thomas D. Croci. "I can’t thank Assemblyman Thiele, Senator Croci and Governor Cuomo enough for championing this legislation, which will alleviate an unfair burden placed on our bill-paying customers," Chairman Gaughran said.