body-def14a2008.htm
 
 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant [x]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [  ]

Check the appropriate box:
[  ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[  ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[x] Definitive Proxy Statement
[  ] Definitive Additional Materials
[  ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240,14a-12

The York Water Company
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[x] No fee required.

[  ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1)  
Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

2)  
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

3)  
Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

4)  
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

5)  
Total fee paid:

[  ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[  ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1)  
Amount Previously Paid:

2)  
Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

3)  
Filing Party:

4)  
Date Filed:




 
 

 


THE YORK WATER COMPANY
130 EAST MARKET STREET
YORK, PENNSYLVANIA 17401


March 28, 2008

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE YORK WATER COMPANY


NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of The York Water Company will be held at The Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, 50 North George Street, York, Pennsylvania, on Monday, May 5, 2008, at 1:00 P.M. for the purpose of taking action upon the following proposals:

 
(1)
To elect three (3) Directors to three-year terms of office;

 
(2)
To appoint independent accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company for the year 2008; and

 
(3)
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on February 29, 2008, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting, and at any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

You are cordially invited to attend the meeting.  In the event you will be unable to attend, you are respectfully requested to submit your proxy either (a) electronically or; (b) by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy at your earliest convenience in the enclosed stamped return envelope.  Returning your proxy does not deprive you of the right to attend the meeting and vote your shares in person.

 
By order of the Board of Directors,



 
BRUCE C. McINTOSH
 
Secretary


 
 

 

THE YORK WATER COMPANY
130 EAST MARKET STREET
YORK, PENNSYLVANIA 17401

March 28, 2008

PROXY STATEMENT

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are being furnished to the shareholders of The York Water Company (hereinafter referred to as the "Company") in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company, whereby shareholders would appoint George Hay Kain, III, Michael W. Gang, Esq., and George W. Hodges, and each of them, as Proxies on behalf of the shareholders, to be used at the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company to be held at 1:00 p.m. at The Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center, 50 North George Street, York, Pennsylvania, Monday, May 5, 2008 (the "Annual Meeting"), and at any adjournment thereof.

Instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each shareholder of record, the Company is now furnishing proxy materials on the Internet.  Shareholders will receive a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) by mail.  The Notice will instruct you as to how you may access and review the proxy materials.  The Notice also instructs you as to how you may submit your proxy over the Internet.  If you would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, or vote by telephone, you should follow the instructions included in the Notice.  It is anticipated that proxy materials will first be made available on the Internet March 28, 2008.

A shareholder who submits a proxy electronically or completes and forwards the enclosed proxy is not precluded from attending the Annual Meeting and voting his or her shares in person, and may revoke the proxy by delivering a later dated proxy or by written notification at any time before the proxy is exercised.


PURPOSE OF THE MEETING

At the Annual Meeting, shareholders of the Company will consider and vote upon two proposals:  (i) to elect three (3) Directors to serve for a term of three (3) years; and (ii) to ratify the appointment of Beard Miller Company LLP as independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008.  Shareholders may also consider and vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.


VOTING AT THE MEETING

The outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting consist of 11,264,923 shares of Common Stock.  The presence at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes, which all shareholders are entitled to cast will constitute a quorum for the Annual Meeting.

 
  2

 


The record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment or adjournments thereof was the close of business on February 29, 2008.  Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters coming before the meeting, except that shareholders have cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of Directors.  Cumulative voting rights permit each shareholder to cast as many votes in the election of each class of Directors to be elected as shall equal the number of such shareholder's shares of Common Stock multiplied by the number of Directors to be elected in such class of Directors, and each shareholder may cast all such votes for a single nominee or distribute such votes among two or more nominees in such class as the shareholder may see fit.  Discretionary authority to cumulate votes is not being solicited.

In accordance with Pennsylvania law, a shareholder can withhold authority to vote for all nominees for Directors or can withhold authority to vote for certain nominees for Directors.  Directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.  Votes that are withheld will be excluded from the vote and will have no effect.

Any votes that are withheld on the proposal to ratify the selection of the independent accountants will have no effect because this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all shareholders entitled to vote.

Brokers who have received no voting instructions from their customers will have discretion to vote with respect to election of directors and the proposal to ratify the Company's auditors.


VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

No person, so far as known to the Company, beneficially owns more than five (5) percent of the Company's outstanding Common Stock as of February 29, 2008.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of February 29, 2008, by (1) each director and other director nominee of the Company, (2) each executive officer named in the summary compensation table included elsewhere herein and (3) all executive officers and directors as a group.

The information appearing in the following table with respect to principal occupation and beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Company has been furnished to the Company by the three nominees, the seven directors continuing in office, and the four executive officers as of February 29, 2008.

 
  3

 

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THREE YEAR TERM EXPIRING IN 2011

       
Director
Full Shares
 
Percent of
       
or Officer
Owned
 
Total Shares
Name
Age
 
Principal Occupation During Last Five Years
Since
Beneficially
 
Outstanding
         
(1)
 
(2)
               
John L. Finlayson
67
Vice President
9/2/1993
17,678
 
0.15
     
Susquehanna Real Estate, LP
       
     
May 2006 to date
       
   
Vice President-Finance and Administration
       
     
Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co.,
       
     
Radio Stations, Cable TV,
       
     
August 1978 to May 2006
       
               
Thomas C. Norris*
69
Retired, Chairman of the Board, Glatfelter,
6/26/2000
17,427
(3)
0.15
     
Paper Manufacturer, May 2000 to date
       
               
Ernest J. Waters
58
York Area Manager, Met-Ed, a First Energy
9/25/2007
100
 
0.00
     
Company, Electric Utility
       
     
March 1998 to date
       
               
               
TO CONTINUE FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 2009
               
               
       
Director
Full Shares
 
Percent of
       
or Officer
Owned
 
Total Shares
Name
Age
 
Principal Occupation During Last Five Years
Since
Beneficially
 
Outstanding
         
(1)
 
(2)
               
George Hay Kain, III
59
Substitute School Teacher, April 2007 to date
8/25/1986
33,956
(4)
0.30
   
Consultant, December 2004 to April 2007
       
               
Michael W. Gang, Esq.*
57
Attorney, Post & Schell PC, Counselors at
1/22/1996
8,454
 
0.07
     
Law, October 2005 to date
       
     
Post & Schell PC is counsel to the
       
     
Company
       
   
Partner/Attorney, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius,
       
     
Counselors at law, October 1984 to
       
     
October 2005
       
               
George W. Hodges
57
Chairman, The Wolf Organization, Inc.
6/26/2000
6,129
(5)
0.05
     
February 2008 to date
       
   
Office of the President, The Wolf
       
     
Organization, Inc., Distributor of Building
       
     
Products, January 1986 to February 2008
       
               
Jeffrey R. Hines, P.E.*
46
President and Chief Executive Officer
1/28/2008
27,359
(6)
0.24
     
March 2008 to date
       
   
Chief Operating Officer and Secretary
       
     
The York Water Company, January 2007
       
     
to March 2008
       
   
Vice President-Engineering and Secretary
       
     
The York Water Company, January 2003
       
     
to December 2006
       
               
               


 

 

TO CONTINUE FOR TERMS EXPIRING IN 2010

       
Director
Full Shares
 
Percent of
       
or Officer
Owned
 
Total Shares
Name
Age
 
Principal Occupation During Last Five Years
Since
Beneficially
 
Outstanding
         
(1)
 
(2)
               
William T. Morris, P.E.*
70
Chairman of the Board, The York Water
4/19/1978
33,086
(7)
0.29
     
Company, November 2001 to date
       
               
Irvin S. Naylor*
72
Vice Chairman of the Board, The York Water
10/31/1960
87,296
 
0.77
     
Company, May 2000 to date
       
   
President/Owner, Snow Time, Inc., Owns and
       
     
operates Ski Areas, June 1964 to date
       
               
Jeffrey S. Osman*
65
Retired, President and Chief Executive Officer
5/1/1995
17,996
(8)
0.16
     
The York Water Company, January 2003
       
     
to March 2008
       
               
               
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
               
               
Kathleen M. Miller
45
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, The
1/1/2003
3,295
 
0.03
     
York Water Company, January 2003
       
     
to date
       
               
Duane R. Close
62
Vice President-Operations, The York Water
5/1/1995
11,087
(9)
0.10
     
Company, May 1995 to date
       
               
Bruce C. McIntosh
55
Vice President-Human Resources and
5/4/1998
2,298
 
0.02
     
Secretary, The York Water Company,
       
     
March 2008 to date
       
   
Vice President-Human Resources, The York
       
     
Water Company, May 1998 to March
       
     
2008
       
               
Vernon L. Bracey
46
Vice President-Customer Service
3/1/2003
190
(10)
0.00
     
The York Water Company
       
     
March 2003 to date
       
               
               
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group
 
266,351
(11)
2.36



 

 


* Members of the Executive Committee.

(1)
Except as indicated in the footnotes below, Directors possessed sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to all shares set forth in this column.
 
(2)
The percentage for each individual or group is based on shares outstanding as of February 29, 2008.
 
(3)
Includes 7,371 shares held by Mr. Norris' wife, for which Mr. Norris disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(4)
Includes 3,876 shares held by the estate of Mr. Kain's wife for which Mr. Kain disclaims beneficial ownership.  Also includes 15,059 shares held by the estate of Mr. Kain's grandfather, for which he is one of three co-trustees and shares voting power and investment power.  Shares are held in a brokerage account under terms that require them to be pledged as a security for margin loans into which Mr. Kain enters.
 
(5)
Includes 4,500 shares held by Mr. Hodges' wife, for which Mr. Hodges disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(6)
Includes 1,993 shares held by Mr. Hines’ wife, for which Mr. Hines disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(7)
Includes shares owned jointly with Mr. Morris' wife, for which he shares voting and investment power.
 
(8)
Includes shares owned jointly with Karen E. Knuepfer, for which he shares voting and investment power.  Shares are held in a brokerage account under terms that require them to be pledged as a security for margin loans into which Mr. Osman enters.
 
(9)
Includes 259 shares held by Mr. Close's wife for which Mr. Close disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(10)
Includes 16 shares held by Mr. Bracey’s step-son for which Mr. Bracey disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(11)
Includes shares owned by family members, and certain other shares, as to which some Directors and Officers disclaim any beneficial ownership and which are further disclosed in the notes above.
 

 

 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

At the Annual Meeting, all the nominees, each of whom is currently serving as Director, are to be elected to serve for the ensuing three (3) years and until their respective successors have been elected and qualified.  The bylaws of the Company provide that the Board of Directors will consist of not less than a total of eight Directors, who are elected to staggered three-year terms of office.  Each share represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted for each of the nominees listed, unless authority to do so is withheld.  If any nominee becomes unavailable for any reason or if a vacancy should occur before the election (which events are not anticipated), the shares represented by the enclosed proxy may be voted as may be determined by the Proxies.

The three Directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.  The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" each of the nominees.

With the assistance of legal counsel of the Company, the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee reviewed the applicable standards for Board member independence and the criteria applied to determine “Audit Committee financial expert” status.  The Committee also reviewed a summary of the answers to annual questionnaires completed by each of the Directors and a report of transactions with Director affiliated entities.

On the basis of this review, the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee delivered a report to the full Board and the Board made its independence and “Audit Committee financial expert” determinations based on the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee report and supporting information.

As a result of this review the Board affirmatively determined that the following Directors are “independent directors” as such term is defined in Marketplace Rule 4200(a)(15) of the National Association of Securities Directors (NASD):

Ernest J. Waters
George W. Hodges
John L. Finlayson
George Hay Kain III
Michael W. Gang, Esq.
Thomas C. Norris




SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE


The Company believes that during the year ended December 31, 2007, all directors and executive officers complied with all applicable filing requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The foregoing statement is based solely upon a review of copies of reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 furnished to the Company and written representations of its Directors and executive officers that no other reports were required.


 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

The following member of the Board of Directors of The York Water Company is a Board member of another publicly held company as indicated below:

   
Publicly Held Companies
Other Than
Board Members
 
 
The York Water Company
 
Mr. George W. Hodges
 
Fulton Financial Corp.


COMMITTEES AND FUNCTIONS

The Company has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, all of which are composed of members of the Board of Directors.

Prior to May 7, 2007, the Company had a Compensation and Nomination Committee and a Corporate Governance Committee.

On May 7, 2007, the Company’s Board formed a Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee consists of four non-employee Directors.  The Compensation Committee is comprised of the following Directors appointed by the Board:  George W. Hodges, Chairman; John L. Finlayson; George Hay Kain, III; and Thomas C. Norris.  The Board has determined that all the members of the Compensation Committee are “Independent Directors” as defined in NASD Rule 4200(a)(15).

Also on May 7, 2007, the Company’s Board formed a Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.  The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee consists of four non-employee Directors.  The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee is comprised of the following Directors appointed by the Board:  Michael W. Gang, Chairman; George W. Hodges; John L. Finlayson; and Thomas C. Norris.  The Board has determined that all members of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee are “Independent Directors” as defined in NASD Rule 4200 (a)(15).

The Executive Committee held three (3) meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.  The Executive Committee is empowered to function as delegated by the Board of Directors.  The Executive Committee is composed of the following Directors appointed by the Board: William T. Morris, P.E., Chairman; Irvin S. Naylor; John L. Finlayson; Michael W. Gang, Esq.; Jeffrey S. Osman; and Jeffrey R. Hines, P.E.

The Audit Committee held four (4) meetings during 2007.  The Audit Committee monitors the audit functions of our independent public accountants and internal controls of the Company.  The Audit Committee is composed of the following independent Directors appointed by the Board: John L. Finlayson, Chairman; Ernest J. Waters; George W. Hodges; and Thomas C. Norris, all of whom have been determined to be independent by the Board.  The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which it reviews and reassesses on an annual basis.  A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company's website, on the Corporate Governance page at www.yorkwater.com.

 

 

The Compensation Committee considers and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the proposed compensations, salaries and per diems of the corporate officers, Directors and members of the Committees of the Board of Directors of the Company.  The Compensation Committee is composed of the following Independent Directors appointed by the Board:  George W. Hodges, Chairman; John L. Finlayson; George Hay Kain, III; and Thomas C. Norris, all of whom have been determined to be independent by the Board.  The Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, which it reviews and reassess on an annual basis.  A copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website, on the Corporate Governance page at www.yorkwater.com.

The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee held two (2) meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.  The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors for nominations for Directors and Officers of the Company.  This Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders of the Company.  Such recommendations shall be made in writing, should include a statement of the recommended nominee’s qualifications and should be addressed to the Committee at the address of the Company.  In accordance with the Company’s by-laws, actual nominations must be made in writing and must be received by the Company not less than ninety (90) days before the date of the Annual Meeting.

The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates for Board membership suggested by its members and other Board members, as well as management and shareholders.  The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee requires that the Committee consider and recommend to the Board the appropriate size, function and needs of the Board, so that the Board as a whole collectively possesses a broad range of skills, industry and other knowledge and business and other experience useful to the effective oversight of the Company's business.  The Board also seeks members from diverse backgrounds with a reputation for integrity.  In addition, Directors should have experience in positions with a high degree of responsibility, be leaders in the companies or institutions with which they are affiliated and be selected based upon contributions that they can make to the Company.  The Committee considers all of these qualities when selecting, subject to Board ratification, candidates for Director.  No distinctions are made as between internally recommended candidates and those recommended by shareholders.

The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee is composed of the following Directors appointed by the Board:  Michael W. Gang, Chairman; George W. Hodges; John L. Finlayson; and Thomas C. Norris, all of whom have been determined to be independent by the Board.  The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, which it reviews and reassesses on an annual basis.  A copy of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee charter is available on the Company's website, on the Corporate Governance page at www.yorkwater.com.

The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee develops and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning corporate governance principles and guidelines.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS OF THE BOARD

The independent directors of the Board schedule regular executive sessions of independent directors in which they meet without management participation.

 

 

COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A shareholder, who wishes to communicate with the Board of Directors, or specific individual Directors, may do so by directing a written request addressed to such Directors or Director in care of the Secretary of The York Water Company, at the address appearing on the first page of this proxy statement.  Communication(s) directed to members of the Board of Directors who are not non-management Directors will be relayed to the intended Board member(s) except to the extent that it is deemed unnecessary or inappropriate to do so pursuant to the procedures established by a majority of the independent Directors.  Communications directed to non-management Directors will be relayed to the intended Board member(s) except to the extent that doing so would be contrary to the instructions of the non-management Directors.  Any communication so withheld will nevertheless be made available to any non-management Director who wishes to review it.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Our Named Executive Officers.  This section discusses the compensation we paid to our named executive officers (as defined by SEC rules) in 2007.  They are:

Name
Title
 
Jeffrey S. Osman
 
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
Kathleen M. Miller
Chief Financial Officer
 
Jeffrey R. Hines
Chief Operating Officer
 
Duane R. Close
Vice President-Operations
 
Bruce C. McIntosh
Vice President-Human Resources

General Philosophy.  We compensate our senior management through a combination of base salary and cash incentives designed to be competitive with comparable employers and to align management's incentives with the long-term interests of our customers.  Our compensation setting process consists of establishing a base salary for each senior manager and designing an annual cash incentive for such manager to reward the achievement of specific operational goals.

Base Salary.  To assist us in establishing base salary in 2007, the Compensation and Nomination Committee engaged SAJE, a nationally recognized consulting firm, to provide a survey of the compensation of senior management at York and at ten comparable investor-owned water utilities.  These comparables included American Water, Aqua America, Inc., Aquarion Water Company, Baton Rouge Water, California Water Service Company, Middlesex Water Company, Pennichuck Water, San Jose Water Company, Suburban Water Systems and United Water.  SAJE also determined relative measures of the relationship between the size and compensation of the companies included in the survey.

Based upon our analysis of the base salary levels and trend lines developed using regression analysis reflected in the survey, we establish base salaries for our senior management.

 
10 

 

The base salary of the President and Chief Executive Officer and other Named Executive Officers is below the 25th percentile of the ten comparable investor-owned water utilities.

Bonuses and Equity Compensation.  We do not provide bonuses or equity compensation to senior management.

Cash Incentives.  Our practice is to use cash awards to incentivize our senior managers to create value for our customers.  To that end, we adopted a Cash Incentive Plan in 2005, pursuant to which our Compensation Committee sets annual performance objectives and target incentive payment amounts.  All of our managers participate in the plan, including our senior managers.

The plan is administered by the Compensation Committee, which has complete and final authority to, among other things, select participants, to determine the goals and circumstances under which incentive awards are granted, to grant awards and to construe and interpret the Plan.  Decisions of the Compensation Committee with respect to the administration and interpretation of the Plan are final, conclusive and binding upon all participants.

The Compensation Committee has discretion to determine all performance objectives and standards for incentive awards.  An example of possible standards is strategic business criteria, consisting of meeting specified water quality standards, environmental or safety standards, affordability or rates and customer satisfaction standards.  The Compensation Committee may exercise its discretion to eliminate, reduce or increase the amounts payable as incentive, subject to such business criteria or other measures of performance.

Under the plan, annual performance objectives are established no later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of any annual incentive period, which is usually a calendar year.  Each performance objective carries with it a score of five (5) points.  No points are awarded for partial achievement of performance objectives.  Incentive awards are granted only if an overall score of seventy-five (75) percent of the available performance objective points are achieved.  The Compensation Committee believes that achieving performance objectives should be the shared responsibility of management.  Accordingly, if an overall score of seventy-five (75) percent of the available performance objective points is achieved, all participants receive their target incentive awards.  If an overall score of less than seventy-five (75) percent of the available performance objectives is achieved, no participant receives any award.

The Compensation Committee set the performance objectives and target incentive awards for 2007 on January 22, 2007.  For 2007, the Compensation Committee determined that the amount of the target cash incentive award would be 5% of the base salary for each management employee, including senior management employees.  The 2007 performance objectives as determined by the Compensation Committee were: develop mobile home hook-up template, construct distribution center addition, install filter plant back-up generator, install pumping station generator, obtain regulatory approval of municipal contract, design and permit dam spillway, design and permit residual handling facilities, install radio-frequency drive-by meter reading system, rehabilitate infrastructure, design and permit filter expansion, select pension plan asset manager, establish retail lockbox service, conduct customer demand feasibility study, establish disaster recovery alternate site, consolidate billing cycles and renegotiate labor contract.

On January 28, 2008, the Compensation Committee determined that our management had achieved the performance objectives for 2007 and awarded the senior managers the amounts set forth on the 2007 Grants of Plan Based Awards Table below, which was the target incentive amount for each senior manager.

 
11 

 

On January 28, 2008, the Compensation Committee determined performance objectives and target incentive amounts to be awarded under the plan for 2008.  The performance objectives were: rehabilitate infrastructure, design and permit filter expansion, consolidate billing cycles, complete geotech surveys of dams, construct distribution center, obtain regulatory approval of municipal contract, install residual handling facilities, issue tax exempt debt, complete an equity offering, complete a major rate case, integrate West Manheim acquisition, establish direct stock purchase plan, and implement eproxy process.  The target incentive amounts for 2008, as determined by the Compensation Committee are 5% of senior managers' annual salary for 2008.

Severance Benefits.  Other than Change in Control payments described below, we do not provide severance benefits to employees.

Retirement Plans.  We provide a traditional defined benefit pension plan.  Senior management is entitled to benefits under the defined benefit pension plan upon retirement after the age of 55 on the same terms as other employees.  The pension benefit is based on the years of service times the sum of $19.25 and 1-1/2% of that portion of the final average monthly earnings which are in excess of $400.  The final average monthly earnings are the average of the employee's earnings for the 60 months immediately preceding the date the pension benefit calculation is made. Employees who terminate their employment prior to the age of 55 may elect to collect benefits upon attaining age 55.

We also provide a supplemental retirement program, which provides senior management with a retirement benefit after the age of 55 in addition to the defined benefit pension.  The supplemental retirement program is designed to encourage senior management to stay with the Company until retirement.  Generally, supplemental retirement benefits are made available to senior management and are payable to the executive or his or her beneficiary over 15 years.  The annual benefit payable under the supplemental retirement program is calculated by multiplying the number of years of service subsequent to December 31, 1983 by a predetermined annual retirement benefit unit as shown below:

Mr. Osman
$1,389
Ms. Miller
  1,394
Mr. Hines
1,444
Mr. Close
1,235
Mr. McIntosh
1,754


The estimated annual benefit payable to Mr. Osman, Ms. Miller, Mr. Close and Mr. McIntosh at normal retirement age under the supplemental retirement program is $33,333.  The estimated annual benefit payable to Mr. Hines at normal retirement age under the supplemental retirement program is $53,333.  Benefits are paid monthly.  Senior managers who terminate their employment prior to the age of 55 forfeit their supplemental retirement benefits.

The pension value of our traditional defined benefit pension and supplemental retirement pension are based upon a 6.50% discount rate.

We also provide a deferred compensation program to senior management.  The deferred compensation program permits senior managers to defer up to 5% of salary over an eight (8) year period, with the Company matching the deferment up to 2-1/2% of salary.  Ms. Miller is the only senior management member currently deferring salary and in 2007, she received annual matching benefits of $189.  Our deferred compensation program does not provide above-market or

 
12 

 

preferential earnings.  Payouts from this plan on retirement, termination, disability or death are described in detail below in the narrative discussion accompanying the 2007 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table.

All senior managers participate in our 401(k) savings plan on the same terms as other employees.  We provide an annual maximum matching contribution of $1,950 per employee.  Mr. Osman has elected to receive a matching contribution of $1,772 during 2007.  All other senior managers have elected to receive the maximum matching contribution of $1,950 during 2007.

Change in Control.  Our senior management has built York Water into the successful business that it is today.  We believe that it is important to protect them in the event of a change of control and to protect the company from the distractions senior managers often suffer as a result of the uncertainties that frequently surround changes in control.  Accordingly, in 2003 we entered into agreements with each of our senior managers that provide for certain payments upon changes of control in consideration of such senior managers agreeing not to compete with us for a period of time following the termination of their employment.  Most change in control payments are only paid if the senior manager in question is terminated in connection with a change in control.  In certain circumstances, however, payments may be made to senior managers who do not terminate their employment for one year following a change in control of us.  These payments incentivize our senior managers to continue their employment amid the uncertainty that often follows changes in control and thereby promotes stability for the company during such times.  Change in control benefits are paid lump sum and are based on a multiple of base salary and cash incentive compensation.  In the event of a change of control, we also continue health and other insurance benefits for between six months and one year corresponding to termination benefits.  These agreements are described in more detail below under the heading "Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control."

Perquisites and Other Benefits.  The primary perquisite for senior management is the use of York Water's vehicles for personal use.  The most common personal use of York Water's vehicles by senior management is commuting to and from work.  No member of senior management receives perquisites valued in the aggregate at $10,000 or more.

Senior management also participates in York Water's other benefit plans on the same terms as other employees.  These plans include medical and health insurance, life insurance and employee stock plan discount.

Board Process.  The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approves all compensation and awards to executive officers, which include the Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and three vice presidents.  The Compensation Committee reviews the performance and compensation of the Chief Executive and, following discussions with that individual, and a review of the data provided by SAJE, establishes his compensation level.  For the remaining executive officers, the Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee that generally are approved.  With respect to the cash incentive awards, the Compensation Committee grants cash incentives, generally based upon the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer.

 
13 

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management, and based on that review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
 
George W. Hodges
John L. Finlayson
 
George Hay Kain III
Thomas C. Norris

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth information concerning compensation paid by the Company to senior managers or accrued by the Company for the senior managers in 2007.

       
Change in
   
       
Pension Value
   
       
& Nonqualified
   
     
Non-Equity
Deferred
   
Name and
   
Incentive Plan
Compensation
All Other
 
Principal Position
Year
Salary ($)
Compensation ($)
Earnings ($)
Compensation ($)
Total ($)
             
Jeffrey S. Osman
           
President, Chief
           
Executive Officer
           
and Director
2007
286,953
 
14,348
   
116,003
 
1,772
419,076
 
2006
269,083
 
13,714
   
178,177
 
1,950
462,924
             
Kathleen M. Miller
           
Chief Financial
           
Officer
2007
103,232
 
5,162
   
4,637
 
2,429
115,460
 
2006
96,968
 
4,925
   
8,307
 
3,223
113,426
             
Jeffrey R. Hines
           
Chief Operating
           
Officer
2007
146,914
 
7,415
   
463
 
2,240
157,032
 
2006
124,450
 
6,314
   
20,711
 
1,950
153,425
             
Duane R. Close
           
Vice President-
           
Operations
2007
126,440
 
6,322
   
37,105
 
2,240
172,107
 
2006
119,305
 
6,053
   
65,456
 
1,950
192,764
             
Bruce C. McIntosh
           
Vice President-
           
Human Resources
2007
99,412
 
4,971
   
9,080
 
2,240
115,703
 
2006
96,022
 
4,826
   
20,077
 
1,950
122,875


 
14 

 

2007 GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS TABLE

Non-Equity Incentive Awards.  As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the heading "Cash Incentives," our practice is to award cash incentives based upon the achievement of diverse performance objectives.  The performance objectives are established annually by the Compensation Committee, and are designed to recognize and reward the achievement of our goals and the creation of value for our customers.  The following table sets forth awards granted to our senior managers in 2007 pursuant to our incentive plan.


 
 
 
Name and Principal Position
 
Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards Target ($)
 
Jeffrey S. Osman
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
 
 
14,348
Kathleen M. Miller
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
5,162
Jeffrey R. Hines
Chief Operating Officer
 
 
 
7,415
Duane R. Close
Vice President-Operations
 
 
 
6,322
Bruce C. McIntosh
Vice President-Human Resources
 
 
4,971
 

The awards appearing in this table also appear in the Summary Compensation Table.

We do not grant equity incentive plan awards.


 
15 

 

2007 PENSION BENEFITS TABLE

The table below sets forth the present value of accumulated benefits payable to each senior manager, including the number of years of credited service, under the Company's General and Administrative Pension Plan (a defined benefit pension plan) and its Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.  Detailed information on these plans can be found in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above, under the heading "Retirement Plans."


 
Name and
Principal Position
 
 
Plan Name
Years of
Credited
Service
Present Value
of Accumulated Benefit ($)
 
Jeffrey S. Osman
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
 
 
General and Administrative Pension Plan
 
 
 
24
 
 
 
 
759,803
 
 
Jeffrey S. Osman
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
 
24
 
 
 
310,232
 
Kathleen M. Miller
Chief Financial Officer
 
General and Administrative Pension Plan
 
11
 
49,576
 
Kathleen M. Miller
Chief Financial Officer
 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
4
 
14,956
 
Jeffrey R. Hines
Chief Operating Officer
 
General and Administrative Pension Plan
 
17
 
93,982
 
Jeffrey R. Hines
Chief Operating Officer
 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
17
 
76,132
 
Duane R. Close
Vice President-Operations
 
General and Administrative Pension Plan
 
30
 
437,764
 
Duane R. Close
Vice President-Operations
 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
24
 
228,289
 
Bruce C. McIntosh
Vice President-Human Resources
General and Administrative Pension Plan
 
11
 
 
79,619
 
Bruce C. McIntosh
Vice President-Human Resources
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
 
9
 
78,286
 


All assumptions made in quantifying the present value of the accumulated benefits to the senior managers under these plans are described in Note 6 to the Company's Financial Statements included in our 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders.


 
16 

 

2007 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION TABLE

The table set forth below presents contributions, earnings and the balance at year-end for the accounts of our senior managers under our deferred compensation program that is described in more detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the heading "Deferred Compensation."

Name and
Principal Position
 
Executive
Contribution
 
Company
Contribution
 
Earnings
 
Balance at
Year-End
 
Jeffrey S. Osman,
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
 
   
601
 
66,239
 
Kathleen M. Miller,
Chief Financial Officer
 
189
 
189
 
950
 
42,421
 
Jeffrey R. Hines,
Chief Operating Officer
 
   
1,818
 
81,405
 
Duane R. Close,
Vice President-Operations
 
   
508
 
71,153
 
Bruce C. McIntosh,
Vice President-Human Resources
   
769
42,473

Amounts reported as Executive Contributions and Company Contributions were reported on the Summary Compensation Table in the Salary and All Other Compensation columns, respectively.


PAYOUT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNTS

Payouts upon Retirement.  Following a senior manager's retirement, a monthly retirement benefit will be paid to him or her for 120 months.  This benefit will be equal to a percentage of his or her deferred income account immediately prior to retirement divided by the following factor (1 minus the corporate marginal Federal and State income tax bracket for the Company's fiscal year ending immediately prior to retirement).  Assuming a federal income tax rate of 34% and state income tax rate of 9.99% for 2007, and assuming all senior managers were eligible for retirement as of December 31, 2007, the senior managers would receive the following monthly benefits:


 
17 

 


 
Name and
Principal Position
 
Deferred
Income Account Percentage (%)
 
Monthly Retirement Amount ($)
 
Jeffrey S. Osman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
 
 
2.039
 
 
 
 
1,351
 
 
Kathleen M. Miller,
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
0.651
 
 
 
276
 
 
Jeffrey R. Hines,
Chief Operating Officer
 
 
 
1.110
 
 
 
904
 
 
Duane R. Close
Vice President-Operations
 
 
 
2.032
 
 
 
1,446
 
 
Bruce C. McIntosh, Vice President-Human Resources
 
 
 
0.664
 
 
 
282
 


Payouts Upon Termination of Employment.  If a senior manager's employment with the Company is terminated other than by death or disability before he or she is eligible for retirement, the amount of his or her contributions plus accumulated interest, if any, without the Company's matching contribution credited to the deferred income account shall be distributed to such senior manager immediately upon his or her termination in a lump sum.  Assuming each senior manager were terminated as of December 31, 2007, such senior managers would be entitled to receive the following lump sum payments:

 
Name and
Principal Position
 
 
Lump Sum Payment Upon Termination ($)
 
Jeffrey S. Osman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
 
 
28,349
 
Kathleen M. Miller,
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
14,986
 
Jeffrey R. Hines,
Chief Operating Officer
 
 
 
39,250
 
Duane R. Close
Vice President-Operations
 
 
 
28,778
 
Bruce C. McIntosh, Vice President-Human Resources
 
 
 
15,209


 
18 

 

Payouts Upon Disability.  If a senior manager becomes disabled before his or her deferred income account has been distributed, he or she may request, and be granted an acceleration of the payments due to the senior manager, to the extent necessary to relieve any financial hardship caused by such disability.  The amount of the deferred income account will be equal to the amount of the cash value of the insurance policy maintained by the Company for the senior manager at the date that he or she is found to be disabled.  Assuming each senior manager became disabled as of December 31, 2007 and was granted an acceleration of all payments due him or her due to the resulting financial hardship, such senior managers would be entitled to receive the following lump sum payments:


 
Name and
Principal Position
 
Lump Sum Payment Upon Becoming Disabled ($)
 
Jeffrey S. Osman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
 
 
58,517
 
Kathleen M. Miller,
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
18,293
 
Jeffrey R. Hines,
Chief Operating Officer
 
 
 
38,065
 
Duane R. Close
Vice President-Operations
 
 
 
53,410
 
Bruce C. McIntosh, Vice President-Human Resources
 
 
 
17,880



Payouts Upon Death.  If a senior manager were to die before distribution of his or her deferred income account has commenced, his or her beneficiary would receive a death benefit in an amount equal to the proceeds of the insurance policy maintained by the Company on his or her life as an investment of the amounts credited to the account, plus an amount which, when added to the proceeds of such insurance policy or policies, would be deductible by the Company for federal corporation income tax purposes at the corporate tax rate in effect in the year of the senior manager's death, and, at such rate, would reduce the Company's net after-tax cost of the death benefit to the proceeds of such insurance policy or policies.  The death benefit determined as above will be paid to beneficiaries in a lump sum or in ten annual installments.  Assuming death benefits for each senior manager become payable as of December 31, 2007, such senior managers' respective beneficiaries would be entitled to receive the following lump sum payments:

 
19 

 



 
Name and
Principal Position
 
 
Beneficiary Death Benefit ($)
 
Jeffrey S. Osman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
 
 
189,900
 
Kathleen M. Miller,
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
240,039
 
Jeffrey R. Hines,
Chief Operating Officer
 
 
 
425,014
 
Duane R. Close
Vice President-Operations
 
 
 
190,497
 
Bruce C. McIntosh, Vice President-Human Resources
 
 
 
155,226


POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR A CHANGE IN CONTROL

Description of Change in Control Agreements.  We have entered into Change in Control Agreements with each member of senior management that provide for payments to them under certain circumstances in connection with a change in control in consideration of such senior managers agreeing not to compete with us for a period of time following the termination of their employment.

Under all agreements, generally a “change in control” will occur if:

·  
Any person or affiliated group (with limited exceptions) becomes the beneficial owner in the aggregate of 50 percent or more of all of our voting securities;

·  
A majority of our Board of Directors is involuntarily removed or defeated for re-election to our Board of Directors (for example, as a result of a proxy contest);

·  
We are party to a merger or reorganization pursuant to which the holders of our voting securities prior to such transaction become the holders of 50 percent or less of the voting securities of the new merged or reorganized company; or

·  
The Company is liquidated or dissolved, or all of its assets are sold to a third party;

In each circumstance described above, our Board of Directors may make a determination that the circumstances do not warrant the implementation of the provisions of the agreement, and in such case, the change in control will not trigger any payments under the agreements.

 
20 

 

All payments under the agreements are triggered by the occurrence of a change in control of us, and most payments also require that the relevant senior manager’s employment also be terminated.  The amounts of payments to our senior managers under these agreements vary depending on the timing of the change in control and the timing and manner of the termination of employment. Generally, the manner of termination is divided into four categories.

A “for cause” termination results from:

·  
misappropriation of funds or any act of common law fraud;
·  
habitual insobriety or substance abuse;
·  
conviction of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude;
·  
willful misconduct or gross negligence by the senior manager in the performance of his duties;
·  
the willful failure of the senior manager to perform a material function of his duties; or
·  
the senior manager engaging in a conflict of interest or other breach of fiduciary duty.

A “good reason” termination occurs when the senior manager terminates his own employment following a change in control and after one or more of the following has occurred:

·  
the Company has breached the change in control agreement;
·  
the Company has significantly reduced the authority, duties or responsibilities of the senior manager or reduced his base compensation or annual bonus compensation opportunity;
·  
the Company has reduced the senior manager from the employment grade or officer positions which he or she holds; or
·  
the Company has transferred the senior manager, without his or her express written consent, to a location that is more than 50 miles from his or her principal place of business immediately preceding the change of control.

A voluntary termination is the termination by the senior manager of his or her own employment under circumstances that would not be a “good reason” termination. Examples are ordinary retirement or leaving the Company to seek other job opportunities.

An involuntary termination is a termination in connection with a change in control that is not a for cause termination, a good reason termination or a voluntary termination.

Payouts under Change in Control Agreements. Under the agreements, all senior managers are entitled to payment in the case of an involuntary termination or a good reason termination within some time period surrounding a change in control of us  (generally six months prior to or one year following a change in control).  Payments are paid in lump sums and are based on a multiple of base salary and cash incentive compensation earned by the senior manager in the preceding 12 months.  We call this amount “base pay.”  Additionally, Messrs. Hines, Close and McIntosh, and Ms. Miller are entitled to payment of “stay bonuses” if they remain employed by us for one year following a change in control, and smaller stay bonuses if they remain employed for at least three months following a change in control and then voluntarily terminate their employment more than three months but less than one year following a change in control.  Finally, our senior managers are entitled to have their health and welfare benefits continue for periods of up to one year following the termination of their employment (subject to such benefits terminating such senior manager becoming covered by the benefit plans of another employer).

 
21 

 

The table below sets forth the relevant base pay multiples, lump sum payout amounts and the value of continued benefits our senior managers would receive under various circumstances under their change in control agreements.  For the purposes of this table, we have assumed that a change in control occurred on December 31, 2007.


 
 
Name
 
 
 
 
Multiple of Base Pay
 
 
Lump Sum Payment Amount ($)
 
Health and Other Insurance Benefits ($) (1)
 
Total
($)
Kathleen M. Miller
               
Involuntary termination or good reason termination.
 
.5 times
 
54,197
 
5,305
 
59,502
Voluntary termination more than 3 months but less than one year after a change in control.
 
.25 times
 
27,099
 
5,305
 
32,404
Continuing employment for one year after a change in control.
 
.5 times
 
54,197
 
5,305
 
59,502
Jeffrey R. Hines
               
Involuntary termination or good reason termination.
 
.5 times
 
77,165
 
2,186
 
79,351
Voluntary termination more than 3 months but less than one year after a change in control.
 
.25 times
 
38,582
 
2,186
 
40,768
Continuing employment for one year after a change in control.
 
.5 times
 
77,165
 
2,186
 
79,351
Duane R. Close
               
Involuntary termination or good reason termination.
 
.5 times
 
66,381
 
4,677
 
71,058
Voluntary termination more than 3 months but less than one year after a change in control.
 
.25 times
 
33,191
 
4,677
 
37,868
Continuing employment for one year after a change in control.
 
.5 times
 
66,381
 
4,677
 
71,058

 
22 

 


 
 
Name
 
 
 
 
Multiple of Base Pay
 
 
Lump Sum Payment Amount ($)
 
Health and Other Insurance Benefits ($) (1)
 
Total
($)
Bruce C. McIntosh
               
Involuntary termination or good reason termination.
 
.5 times
 
52,057
 
4,566
 
56,623
Voluntary termination more than 3 months but less than one year after a change in control.
 
.25 times
 
26,028
 
4,566
 
30,594
Continuing employment for one year after a change in control.
 
.5 times
 
52,057
 
4,566
 
56,623

(1) The value of health benefits was determined using the estimated rates applicable under the Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for terminated employees.


Payment of the lump sum payments under the change in control agreements is contingent upon the senior manager executing a standard release.  The change in control agreements also contain non-competition provisions that generally require that, a senior manager will not, while he or she is employed by us and for one year following the termination of his or her employment by us:

·  
participate in the ownership, management, operation, control or financing of, or be connected as an officer, director, employee, partner, principal, agent, representative, consultant or otherwise with or use or permit his or her name to be used in connection with, any business or enterprise engaged in by us within our franchised territory;
·  
solicit or attempt to convert any account or customer of the Company to another supplier; or
·  
solicit or attempt to hire any employee of the Company.

Any breach of this non-competition agreement can result in damages being awarded to the Company, including in the amount of one-half of any lump sum payments described above.

Other Payouts.  The senior managers will also be entitled to the payouts of their pension and supplemental retirement accounts upon retirement and payout of their deferred compensation accounts upon termination of their employment with us.

 
23 

 


Using the assumptions described in Note 6 to the Company’s Financial Statements included in our 2007 Annual Report to Shareholders, and assuming that all of our senior managers remain with the Company until reaching age 55 (or, for those who are currently older than age 55, assuming they retired as of December 31, 2007) our senior managers have earned monthly benefits under the pension plan and supplemental retirement plan as follows:


 
Name
 
 
Plan Name
Monthly Benefit ($)
Jeffrey S. Osman
General and Administrative Pension Plan
 
6,647
 
Jeffrey S. Osman
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
2,778
 
Kathleen M. Miller
General and Administrative Pension Plan
1,423
 
Kathleen M. Miller
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
465
 
Jeffrey R. Hines
General and Administrative Pension Plan
2,934
 
Jeffrey R. Hines
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
2,162
 
Duane R. Close
General and Administrative Pension Plan
4,865
 
Duane R. Close
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
2,469
 
Bruce C. McIntosh
General and Administrative Pension Plan
1,456
 
Bruce C. McIntosh
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
1,316


Our senior managers will also be entitled to be paid the amounts described in the narrative discussion accompanying the 2007 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table above in the manner described in that section.

 
24 

 


2007 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE


Director
Fees Earned
Paid in Cash
All Other
Compensation
Total
Compensation
       
William T. Morris
     
Chairman of the Board
22,870
28,358
51,228
       
Irvin S. Naylor
     
Vice Chairman of the Board
22,200
15,448
37,648
       
John L. Finlayson
26,315
 
26,315
       
Michael W. Gang
25,215
 
25,215
       
Thomas C. Norris
26,690
 
26,690
       
George W. Hodges
22,500
 
22,500
       
Chloè R. Eichelberger
5,390
 
5,390
       
George Hay Kain III
18,410
 
18,410
       
Ernest J. Waters
7,450
 
7,450


Director Fees Earned.  The bylaws of the Company require directors to be shareholders.  In consideration of the services they provide to us, directors who are not regular full-time employees are entitled to receive $10,500 per year plus $650 for attendance at each regular and special meeting of the Board of Directors.  Audit Committee members are entitled to receive $700 for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Audit Committee.  The chairperson of the Audit Committee receives $1,000 for attendance at each Audit Committee meeting.  All other committee members who are not regular full-time employees are entitled to receive $650 for attendance at each Committee meeting.  The chairperson of each Committee receives $800 for attendance at Committee meetings.

The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board are designated as officers of the Company by the Standing Resolutions of the Board.  The Board has established a base salary for the Chairman and Vice Chairman of $25,920 and $13,010, respectively, to compensate them for the duties they perform and responsibilities they fulfill.  The base salary for the Chairman and Vice Chairman are shown in the All Other Compensation column.

In addition, the Vice Chairman participates in our traditional defined benefit pension plan.  During 2007, the Vice Chairman had a reduction in the present value of his defined benefit pension of $1,313.

 
25 

 


The Chairman and Vice Chairman participate in our 401(k) savings plan on the same basis as other employees.  In 2007, we provided matching contributions of $1,950 for each of their accounts.  The 401(k) matching contributions are shown in the All Other Compensation Column.

The Chairman and Vice Chairman also participate in York's other benefit plans on the same terms as other employees.  These plans include medical and health insurance and employee stock purchase plan discount.

 No perquisites are provided to Directors.

There were 14 Board of Directors' Meetings during calendar year 2007.  All Directors attended at least 75% of the scheduled Board of Directors and committee meetings.


DISCLOSURE OF RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Board has adopted a policy setting forth procedures for the review, approval and monitoring of transactions involving the Company and related persons (directors, nominees for directors, 5% security holders, and executive officers or their immediate family members).  Under the policy, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all related party transactions involving directors and executive officers or an immediate family member of a director or executive officer.  In furtherance of this policy, the Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all Directors, officers and employees, which generally requires the reporting to management of transactions or opportunities that constitute conflicts of interest so that they may be avoided.  Our Code of Conduct is available on our web site, on the Corporate Governance page at www.yorkwater.com.  Pursuant to our Audit Committee Charter, any transaction between us and our officers and directors or holders of 5% of more of our common stock that should be avoided pursuant to these policies must be reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee.

The Company does not have any material related party transactions in which a related person has a direct or indirect benefit.

We have reviewed the related party transactions between Director Michael W. Gang, Esquire and Post & Schell PC, counsel to the Company, and with Jeffrey S. Osman, Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, and have determined that these interests are not material.  The Company paid Post & Schell PC $76,442 for legal services during 2007.  Mr. Gang is partner with Post & Schell PC.  Mr. Osman will provide regulatory consulting services to the Company in 2008, the value of which is anticipated to be less than $50,000.


 
26 

 


COMPANY PERFORMANCE

The following line graph presents the annual and cumulative total shareholder return for The York Water Company Common Stock over a five-year period, as compared to a comparable return associated with an investment in the S&P 500 Composite Index and a composite index of water companies (the "Peer Index").







The line graph above assumes $100 invested on December 31, 2002 in the Company's Common Stock and the stock of companies included in the S&P 500 and the Peer Index and assumes the quarterly reinvestment of dividends.  The return for the Peer Index presented above took into consideration the cumulative total return of the common stock of the following water companies included in the Peer Index:  American States Water Company, Artesian Resources Corp., California Water Service, Connecticut Water Service, Inc., Middlesex Water Company, Pennichuck Corporation, Aqua America, Inc., San Jose Water Company, and Southwest Water Co.

 
27 

 


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Company’s Audit Committee (the “Committee”) consists of four non-employee Directors who are "independent Directors" as defined in NASD Rule 4200 (a)(15).  The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate.  In January 2003, the Board of Directors adopted an amended and restated written charter for the Audit Committee.  A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website, on the Corporate Governance page at www.yorkwater.com.

The Audit Committee reviews the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board, reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K and releases of earnings.  In addition, the Committee selects, subject to stockholder ratification, the Company’s independent public accountants.

The Board of Directors has determined that John L. Finlayson, Chairman of the Audit Committee, is an Audit Committee financial expert within the meaning of the applicable SEC rules.  Mr. Finlayson is a Certified Public Accountant, and has an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements, as well as the ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves.  Mr. Finlayson is experienced in the preparation and auditing of financial statements of public companies, and has an understanding of accounting estimates, internal control over financial reporting, and audit committee functions.  He is independent of management.

There are no disagreements with Beard Miller Company LLP, the Company's principal accountants on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures.  The audit reports of Beard Miller Company LLP do not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor are they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and the financial reporting process.  The independent public accountants are responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and to issue a report thereon.  The Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.

In this context, the Committee has met and held discussions with management and the independent public accountants.  Management represented to the Committee that the Company’s audited financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements with management and the independent public accountants.  The Committee discussed with the independent public accountants the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees).

 
28 

 


In addition, the Committee has discussed with the independent public accountants the auditor’s independence from the Company and its management, and has received the written disclosures and the letter required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees).

The Committee discussed with the Company’s independent public accountants the overall scope and plans for their audits.  The Committee meets with the independent public accountants, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

Based upon the Committee’s discussions with management and the independent public accountants and the Committee’s review of the representations of management and the report of the independent public accountants to the Committee, the Committee recommended that the Board include the audited financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for filing with the SEC.


John L. Finlayson, Chairman
 
George W. Hodges, Member
Ernest J. Waters, Member
 
Thomas C. Norris, Member


SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF
APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

The Audit Committee has approved the appointment of Beard Miller Company LLP, York, Pennsylvania, as independent public accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company for the year 2008.  Beard Miller Company LLP audited the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.  There have been no disagreements between the Company and Beard Miller Company LLP concerning the Company’s financial statements.  It is intended that, unless otherwise specified by the shareholders, votes will be cast pursuant to the proxy hereby solicited in favor of the appointment of Beard Miller Company LLP.

Audit fees and all professional services to be rendered by Beard Miller Company LLP are approved by the Company’s Audit Committee.  The Board considers the possible effect on auditors' independence of providing nonaudit services prior to the service being rendered, but the Board does not anticipate significant non-audit services will be rendered during 2008.

 
29 

 


The following table presents fees for services provided by Beard Miller Company LLP were as follows for 2007 and 2006:


   
2007
 
2006
 
Audit Fees (1)
 
99,900
 
137,525
Audit Related Fees
 
0
 
0
Tax Fees (2)
 
9,100
 
8,750
All Other Fees
 
0
 
0
   
109,000
 
146,275


(1) Professional services rendered for 2007 include (a) the audit of the Company's annual financial statements, (b) the review of the financial statements included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and (c) the audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.  Professional services rendered for 2006 include (a) the audit of the Company's annual financial statements, (b) the review of the financial statements included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, (c) the audits of management's assessment and effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and (d) consent and comfort letters in connection with registration and debt offering statements.

(2) Tax fees include preparation of the federal income tax return and other tax matters.

The Audit Committee approves in advance any audit or non-audit services provided by outside auditors.  During 2007 and 2006, there were no exceptions to the Audit Committee's pre-approval requirements.

Representatives of Beard Miller Company LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting.  Representatives of Beard Miller Company LLP will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.  The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" this proposal.  It is understood that even if the selection of Beard Miller Company LLP is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a new independent auditing firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.


 
30 

 

DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY

The notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders calls for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.  The Board of Directors has no knowledge of any matters to be presented for action by the shareholders at the meeting other than is hereinbefore set forth.  In the event additional matters should be presented, however, the proxies will exercise their discretion in voting on such matters.


SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS FOR DIRECTORS

In accordance with the Company's bylaws, shareholder's proposals and nominations for Directors for consideration at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received by the Company in writing prior to February 3, 2009.


OTHER MATTERS

The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all Directors, officers and employees.  Our Code of Conduct constitutes a “code of ethics” as required by Item 406 of Regulation S-K.  There were no waivers of the Code made for any Director, officer or employee during 2007.  A copy of the Code of Conduct was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.  The Code of Conduct is also available, free of charge, on our website, on the Corporate Governance page at www.yorkwater.com.  The Company intends to disclose amendments to, or Director, officer and employee waivers from, the Code of Conduct, if any, on its website, or by Form 8-K to the extent required.

The expense of this solicitation will be paid by the Company.  If necessary, some of the officers of the Company and regular employees of The York Water Company may solicit proxies personally or by telephone.

Further information regarding the Company is set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Form 10-K (including financial statements and schedules) may be obtained free of charge by writing to:  The York Water Company, 130 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania 17401.  Copies of exhibits to the Form 10-K will be furnished upon request and the payment of a reasonable fee.  The Form 10-K is also available, free of charge, on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.yorkwater.com.

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders, which includes financial statements, does not form part of the proxy solicitation materials.  The Annual Report to Shareholders is also available, free of charge, on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at www.yorkwater.com.


 
31 

 



YWC Company Logo
THE YORK WATER COMPANY
130 E. MARKET STREET
BOX 15089
YORK, PA  17405
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com
Use  the  Internet  to  transmit  your  voting  instructions  and  for  electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the
cut-off  date  or  meeting  date.  Have  your  proxy  card  in  hand  when  you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
 
ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS
If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by The York Water Company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy
statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically in future  years.
 
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until
11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
 
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark,  sign  and  date  your  proxy  card  and  return  it  in  the  postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to The York Water Company, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717


 
 

 

THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.

THE YORK WATER COMPANY
         
Directors recommend a vote FOR all the nominees listed.
     
Vote On Directors
           
1.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
For All
Withhold All
For All Except
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “For All Except” and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.
 
Nominees:
           
 
01)
John L. Finlayson
 
O
O
O
 
 
02)
Thomas C. Norris
         
 
03)
Ernest J. Waters
         
               
               
Vote On Proposal
     
For
Against
Abstain
 
2.
Appoint Beard Miller Company LLP as auditors.
O
O
O
 
               
3.
DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY
         
 
To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting and any adjournment
 
thereof according to the proxies’ discretion and in their discretion.
               
To cumulate votes as to a particular nominee as explained in the Proxy Statement, check box to the right then indicate the name(s) and the number of votes to be given to such nominee(s) on the reverse side of this card.  Please do not check box unless you want to exercise cumulative voting.
O
     
               
               
Please indicate if you plan to attend this meeting.
O
O
 
         
Yes
No
 
               
         
NOTE:  Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy.  When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.  When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.  If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such.  If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
               
         
Signature (PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX)
Date
 
Signature (Joint Owners)
Date

 
 

 

The York Water Company
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
THE YORK WATER COMPANY


Proxy - Annual Meeting of Shareholders
May 5, 2008


The undersigned, a Shareholder of The York Water Company, a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), does hereby appoint George Hay Kain, III, Michael W. Gang, Esq., and George W. Hodges, and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys and proxies with full power of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to vote all of the shares of Common Stock of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held Monday, May 5, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. local time at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, 50 North George Street, York, Pennsylvania or at any adjournment thereof.

THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER.  IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS
1 THROUGH 2.





(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)