2012-10-Bos-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Selectmen’s Meeting October 1, 2012 A regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held on Monday, October 1, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen Meeting Room of the Town Office Building. Chairman Mauger, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Manz; and Mr. Burnell; Mr. Valente, Town Manager; and Ms. Pease, Executive Clerk, were present. Town Manager Report Chief Corr, Police, provided information to the public regarding sex offender laws and where residents can get information and where they can get their questions answered. Town Counsel and Police will explore bylaw options and return to a Selectmen’s meeting with information. Hearing on FY2013 Water/Sewer Recommended Rates The hearing began at 7:14 p.m. The purpose of this hearing was to take public comments. Mr. Addelson, Assistant Town Manager of Finance, presented the proposed water and sewer rates: Sewer $5.8% increase, Water 1.3% increase and Combined $3.9% increase. At the request of Mr. Kelley, Mr. Addelson is looking at the proposed assumption of 250,000 hcf for the irrigation estimated usage. Mr. Kelley would like the Board to consider reducing the combined water/sewer rate to 2.5% by using some of the retained earnings. He asked Mr. Addelson to provide a breakdown of retained earnings might be if the water/sewer increase was reduced to 2.5%. Mr. Burnell is concerned the MWRA rates will increase rates because of their debt and does not think it is a good idea to reduce the combined water/sewer rate. He would like MRWA’s future projections to be part of the analysis Mr. Addelson will be doing looking at an increase of 2.5%. Mr. Kanter, Town Meting Member from Precinct 7 and member of the Capital Expenditures Committee, cautions that unless the increase in retained earnings is a recurring amount of money, it should not be used to reduce the water/sewer rate because it may lead to a higher step the following year. Mr. Cohen agrees with Mr. Burnell and Mr. Kanter. He does not agree with using retained earnings to reduce the water/sewer increase to 2.5% since retained earnings are occasionally used for capital projects and because of possible rate increases from MWRA. The hearing was closed at 7:26 p.m. At the October 15 Selectmen meeting it is anticipated that the Board will vote on recommended rates.