Public Hearing – Water/Sewer Rate – April 17th 2017

Minutes of the Water/Sewer Rate Public Hearing held on Monday, April 17th, 2017 Mayor Megan Grenier opened the Public Hearing at 6:00 P.M.

PRESENT:

Megan Grenier, Mayor
Steve Boulet, Trustee
Diane Foley, Trustee
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney

ABSENT:

Seth H. Harris, Trustee
Aileen Nicoll, Trustee
Paul Reuss, Exec Asst to Mayor
William T. Smith, Jr., Village Treasurer

Also attending: Brian Marsh, John Stangle, Kirk Montanye, Jim Long, Bill Moreland, John Burkett, Diane Brunelle, Greg Berck, Eric Johnson.

The Clerk read the notice:

A Public Hearing to discuss Water/Sewer Rates will be held on Monday, April 17, 2017 at 6:00 P.M. prior to the Regular Board Meeting. Such Public Hearings are open to the public and are accessible to the handicapped. All are encouraged to attend or to present comments in writing.

Since the 2009-2010 budget year the Village has done over $3,000,000 of upgrades to the Water System.

Therefore, the Treasurer has recommended the following changes to the water/sewer rates. He would like to change the sewer rate from 60% of water to 45% and add 10% to the water rates.

If this proposed change is approved there will be a slight decrease in the water bills, a minimum residential customer’s water/sewer bill will go from $298.80 to $297.01 a decrease of $0.89 every six months.

As we have several more upgrades to the Water and Sewer systems in the future, this change will help with the planning and funding of future projects.

Resident Brian Marsh asked were the funds from water/sewer accounts go. The Mayor explained funds pay for water from Troy and the infrastructure.

Resident John Stangle asked if Treasurer Smith still had Reserve Funds that would be used for water rate increases. A discussion followed.

Resident Greg Berck complained about the minimum usage. This is unfair for residents who don’t use a lot of water they are paying for residents who use more. A discussion followed.

Resident John Stangle explained approximately seven (7) years ago a study was completed and the average family of four uses 96,000 gallons of water per year and that is were the 50,000 gallons semi-annual figure came from.

Resident Bill Moreland asked if the funds go for infrastructure. When new apartments are built does the Village pay for water/sewer lines for the complex. Eric Johnson from Chazen Companies explained that the developer pays to tie units into the systems.

The Mayor asked if there were any further comments or questions, hearing none she closed the Public Hearing.

The Water/Sewer Rate Public Hearing was adjourned at 6:24 P.M.

________________
Donald Handerhan
Clerk