Meetings
Dec 2 – Dec 5
Monday, December 2
Sewer
Meeting Treatment
Plant 4:30
Templeton sewer seeking input
on proposed rate increases
Kerry O'Brien
News Staff Writer
TEMPLETON — The Sewer
Department is hosting a hearing for rate-payers Monday evening to gather
feedback on the rate increases their proposing.
“We just want the people to be notified and get
their input,” said Sewer Commission Chairman Mark Moschetti. “We have the
paperwork to prove where our rates should be, but we want to know what the
market will bear — we just don’t want to blind side our customers.”
Last year, Phillipston resident Rick Reppucci filed
suit against the department — which has approximately 1,400 clients — claiming
that the tie-in fee for new customers was too high and the department had no
justification for the rate.
In response to the legal action, the department
commissioned $20,000 from town meeting voters in order to conduct a study of
their rates. Officials are encouraging residents to attend their meeting Dec. 2
at 4:30 p.m. at the sewer department to seek input from customers.
“We spent a lot of money for a rate study and we
want to show what we came up with,” Mr. Moschetti said.
Worcester Superior Court sided with Mr. Reppucci,
according to Mr. Moschetti, deeming that the tie-in fee should be cut in half
following the results of the study.
“We needed a basis for our fees,” Mr. Moschetti
said. “We need to show why they are what they are.”
During the hearing, various scenarios of how the
rates could be increased will be presented.
“(The rate is) going to go up, but it could be all
in one shot or over a few years,” said Mr. Moschetti. “That’s what I want to
get from the people, what do they think is fair.”
The necessity for the increase is partially driven
by customers unpaid debts as well as a need to do repairs and upgrades, Mr.
Moschetti said.
“Things are deteriorating and we have to fix them
because we run 24/7,” he said. “Everyone keeps flushing. Things are going to
have to be upgraded and fixed, and it comes from the rates. We get no money
from taxation. We get our money from callers and users.”
The study will be available to the public via the
department’s website after the hearing.
Mr. Moschetti said the commission will hold an
official rate meeting to vote on the new rates in February.
Board
of Health 2 School St 6 pm
BOS
690 patriots Rd 6:30 pm
