Our Leadership

Mission

The purpose of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is to provide environmentally sound, efficient, cost effective electric, water, solid waste, wastewater and district heating utility services while actively encouraging the economic growth and development of its community.

Our leadership team is helping us achieve our mission through the rich and diverse experience, skills and backgrounds they bring to our utility.

David L. Leathers, General Manager

David Leathers, General Manager Opens in new windowAs General Manager at the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities since March, 2008, David L. Leathers has full executive responsibility of the five-division, 150-employee public municipal utility and its $65 million annual budget.  Previously, he served as Interim General Manager and Deputy General Manager for the Electric Division and has been with the Utility since December 2005.  Leathers reports to a nine-member Board of Directors.

 In 2023, the New York Association of Public Power (NYAPP) elected Leathers as President of its organization where he had served as Third Vice President/Secretary. In his previous role, he was honored by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) as one of two primary NYAPP leaders participating in the negotiations between NYPA, NYAPP and the Municipal Electric Utilities Association of New York State. His work helped secure a long-term contract extension with NYPA for hydropower commitments through September, 2040, on behalf of the organizations and the municipal and cooperative electric customers of New York State.

On a national level, Leathers serves as a Director of the American Public Power Association (APPA) national board and participates on the APPA CEO Climate Change & Generation Policy Committee. In 2020, the APPA named Leathers a recipient of its national Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence Award which honors two managers annually out of 2,000 American public power electric companies.

In Jamestown, Leathers is Co-President of the Jamestown Center City Development Corporation (Northwest Arena) Board of Directors. Jamestown Community College (JCC) honored him as Alumnus of the Year in 2017 and the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce recognized him as Person of the Year in 2009. 

Leathers graduated from JCC and the State University of New York at Buffalo in Electrical Engineering. He earned his Master in Science, Manufacturing Management from the General Motors Institute. Before working for the BPU, Leathers was a General Manager of Valeo, Inc. - U.S. Truck Division; a Team Manager and Supplier Quality Assurance Engineer at Cummins Engine Company and a Product Assurance Engineer at the Naval Underwater Systems Center, Newport, Rhode Island.

Paul Snyder, Deputy General Manager for Water Resources

Paul Snyder Opens in new windowPaul S. Snyder, P.E. began the role of Deputy General Manager (DGM) of Water Resources in June, 2023. His responsibilities include the BPU’s Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste and District Heating Divisions.

The DGM graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is licensed as a professional engineer in New York and Pennsylvania.

A former Engineer III of both the Chautauqua County’s Health and Public Facilities Departments, Snyder’s duties included evaluating and inspecting public water systems, wastewater systems, public pools, campgrounds and mobile home parks. Overseeing and ensuring that all New York design and treatment standards were upheld, he played an integral role in emergency response communications processes in the event of major municipal water emergencies.