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MINUTES Vol. 26 Page 339
PUBLIC HEARING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
September 2, 2014
A PUBLIC HEARING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 to solicit citizen input regarding a proposed bond resolution appropriating $52,000,000 for the planning, design, construction, and reconstruction of the water pollution control facility and wastewater infrastructure and authorizing the issuance of $52,000,000 bonds of the City to meet said appropriation and pending the issuance thereof, the making of temporary borrowings for such purpose.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Christopher Anderson, Paul Cavagnero, Gregg Cogswell, Drake Waldron, Anne Ruwet and Paul Samele. Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, WPCA Administrator Ray Drew, City Treasurer Arthur Mattiello, City Clerk Joseph Quartiero, and Fire Chief Gary Brunoli were also present, along with Board of Finance members Joshua Ferreira, Frank Rubino, Thomas Scoville, Laurene Pesce, and Bill Lamoin.
Mayor Carbone called the public hearing to order at 6:37 p.m. beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk Joseph Quartiero read the legal notice including the title of the resolution, “Resolution Appropriating $52,000,000 For The Planning, Design, Construction, And Reconstruction Of The Water Pollution Control Facility And Wastewater Infrastructure And Authorizing The Issuance Of $52,000,000 Bonds Of The City To Meet Said Appropriation And Pending The Issuance Thereof, The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose”.
Christopher Pierce, PE, of Wright Pierce gave a presentation that explained the project.
Mr. Mattiello described how the project’s funding would affect the taxpayers, saying the City’s mill rate would increase by about 1/2 mill.
Councilor Ruwet suggested the community be involved on a building committee for the project, and Councilor Cavagnero asked for a cost breakdown of the state’s mandates. Mr. Scoville asked if the facility’s capacity would increase. Mr. Drew said that is not part of the current plan, but the collection system design would be improved. Mr. Lamoin asked if future City growth was considered in the plan and Mr. Drew replied that there is a 1.4 million gallons per day allocation that is not currently being used. Mr. Lamoin asked what the anticipated impact is to the sewer user. Mr. Drew said the average single family home would see about a $50 per year increase in their sewer user fee. Mr. Ferreira asked where the 2% rate came from. Mr. Drew replied that it is a grant/loan program set by State
legislation, paid back over a 20-year period at 2%.
Mr. Christopher Purrone of 271 Babbling Brook Rd. said he is not arguing that a new system is needed but questioned the portion that non-sewer-users would pay. Mayor Carbone explained that 50% would be allocated to taxpayers and 50% allocated to sewer users. She noted that the whole community will benefit from an upgrade to this facility, particularly in the area of economic development to afford new businesses the opportunity to tap into the system. Mr. Purrone accepted Mayor Carbone’s explanation that non-sewer-users would pay about 25% as taxpayers and sewer users would pay 75% as both taxpayer and sewer-user.
Mayor Carbone closed the public hearing at 7:25 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CMC
Asst. City Clerk
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