After more than two hours of deliberation Monday and years of study, Newton’s Board of Aldermen approved the use of second meters to measure outdoor water use for residents, but did not make the option available to commercial or non-profit properties, Jim Morrison of the Newton TAB reports.
For a play by play of the debate visit the @14thVillage Twitter feed.
Here’s how the vote broke down:
In favor: Albright, Ciccone, Crossley, Fuller, Gentile, Hess-Mahan, Johnson, Kalis, Lappin, Leary, Lipof, Rice, Schwartz, Lennon.Against: Baker, Blazar, Brousal-Glaser, Cote, Danberg, Harney, Laredo, Sangiolo, Yates.Absent: Norton.
I’m disappointed overall, but also specifically that there was not more support for Lisle Baker’s amendments to allow charging for the portion of the MWRA sewer bill unrelated to sewer volume — that part at least should be spread over all water usage, because it’s a benefit to the city as a whole that we have a sewer system just like we have a road system.
Sorry Greg, but I think the outlook is not good for the Board giving businesses and non-profits the second meter option, and I think that’s just as well, since it would just shift more of the burden to small businesses, especially those that use a lot of water indoors (restaurants), that aren’t likely to have high enough usage to justify the second meter investment. And there seemed to be no sentiment for helping out BC and the other colleges that pay no property tax.
Can anyone explain how this window of declaring intention to get a second meter works? They said it’s January to April, right? Will that be an annual thing, like the period to change your health plan? Or just a one-shot deal?
I believe someone said last night, you don’t have to install the meter between January and April, you just have to declare your intention to install one, so the city knows how many there will be, and can take that into consideration when they set the tier rates. But what if someone changes their mind after seeing the rates?
The rate-setting is going to be very interesting. And the aftermath. I think there could be quite a backlash before the next election when people who never cared about second meters, and people who thought they’d want one but realize they don’t use enough HCF to justify the upfront cost, see their new water/sewer bills.