Monday, June 17, 2024 at 6 PM
Online only
This meeting has happened. Minutes are final.
What happened
1 items of legislation were taken up.
- 1 kept in committee
Agenda 1 items
Notices from the agenda
The meeting took place virtually via Zoom and was called to order at 6:00 PM by Chair Wilson and adjourned at 9:40 PM on a roll call vote of 4 in favor (Councilors Clingan, Burnley, Scott and Wilson), none against and 1 absent (Councilor Ewen-Campen). Others present: David Goodridge – Director - IT, David Slonina - Deputy Director – IT, Rich Raiche – Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management, Melissa Woods – Director of Capital Projects, Brian Postlewaite – Director of Engineering, Demetrios Vidalis - Director of Water and Sewer, Julie Spurr-Knight – Director of Finance and Administration – DPW, Matthew Bennett – Superintendent of Buildings, Ben Waldrip – Superintendent of Grounds, Jill Lathan – Commissioner of Public Works, Eric Weisman – Director of Operations – DPW, Jeffrey Barbiere – Superintendent of Lights and Lines/Electrical, Erica Satin-Hernandez – ARPA Director, Peter Forcellese – Legislative Clerk. The meeting was recessed at 7:48 PM and reconvened at 7:58 PM. .
(Posted online: 5/17/24 at 11:00 AM) Original (Posted online: 6/14/24 at 11:00 AM) Revised
Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, this meeting of a City Council Committee will be conducted via remote participation. We will post an audio recording, audio-video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of these proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting on the City of Somerville website and local cable access government channels. Copy & paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NddF65ahQuyiN39W4RVUbg Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e. CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or ada@somervillema.gov.
Roll Call
- 1. Review of the FY 2025 Budget
-
2.
Director of Water and Sewer conveying the FY 2025 Water & Sewer Rate proposal.
{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\nowidctlpar\sl-284\slmult0\qj\tx722\tx1082\f0\fs24 Director of Water and Sewer Demetrios Vidalis addressed questions asked at last week\rquote s City Council meeting. He explained that the proposed rates have an average increase of less than 6% and would provide $1.6 million in revenue for water and $1.4 million in revenue for sewer. That will fund the city\rquote s MWRA assessments and the city\rquote s infrastructure plan. Rate tier changes are being considered for implementation in January 2025. Director Vidalis told the committee that the city paid $3.4 million for contract work in FY24. The department has a plan to explain rate increases in a letter to be sent with the first round of bills and is also working to get a communication out about affordability and resources. \par \par Chair Wilson referenced a slide comparing Somerville\rquote s rates with those in Malden and Medford. He stated that according to an MWRA chart, Somerville paid the 2\super nd\nosupersub highest rate out of the 55 communities in the MWRA district. The Director said that users are paying the retail rate , i.e., what the city is charging people. Chair Wilson said that he has a fundamental disagreement about how the city pays for the infrastructure improvements that are needed.\par \par Councilor Scott asked about invoices for contracted work and Director Vidalis will submit the response in the next day or 2. He said that Water has 2 contracts totaling slightly over $2 million and Sewer has 2 contracts totaling $1.3 million, bringing the total for all 4 contracts in FY24 to $3.4 million. Three contracts have expired and will be going out to bid, followed by 1 more next month.\par \par \par The city has 15,400 rate payers and Councilor Scott noted that 924 of them saw significant increases this year. Director Vidalis explained that the department is proactively trying to adjust those bills that are brought to its attention. Councilor Scott said that 170 bills have been adjusted so far and the Director said that they are working from bills with the greatest increase to smallest, starting with anyone who saw an increase of $2000 or more. Below that amount, it\rquote s up to the rate payer to request an adjustment.\par \par Councilor Clingan asked about increases over the past 5 years and the Director said that the average monthly increase was $29. Councilor Clingan pointed out that the increase is over 30% for that period. He said that when inflation is factored in, along with prop 2.5 over rides, the lack of faith in this department and its inability to hire people, he can\rquote t support asking the public for another increase, adding that it would be felt by renters and affect affordability and displacement. Director Vidalis said that the city is looking at recruiting and expects that negotiations will improve hiring and that once the department is staffed up, reliance on contractors will lessen. Director Vidalis reported that the total spent was $4 million and if the department were fully staffed, with overtime pay and supplemental contracting included, the total spent would still have been $4 million. Chair Wilson stated that he can\rquote t support this rate increase and Councilor Scott noted that similar conversations have been had every year since 2019, adding that he will not support the rate increases. Director Vidalis pointed out that 85% of the department\rquote s expenses are a fixed amount and that the Enterprise Funds are designed to be self sustaining. Chair Wilson said rate payers aren\rquote t the only source of the revenue needed to fix things and he asked the Administration to consider spending any ARPA funds, not locked in or returned to the city, on the Poplar Street Pumping Station project to help rate payers. ARPA Director Erica Satin-Hernandez said that she understands the request and said all funds have been accounted for.\par \par This will be TABLED kept in committee for discharge tomorrow for consideration before the Committee of the Whole.\par \pard\cf1\f1\par }