Letter to the Editor: Why No Meeting on Sewer Fees?

Dear Council, 

It was my understanding that there was to be a joint meeting of the council and the water pollution organization to discuss the sewer fee for this year. I was told it was to be on October 15, 2013.

I saw Fred Shaw this morning and he indicated he had not been informed of any such meeting.  I then went by Matt's office this morning to check and found he is away until October 21st, therefore there will be no meeting as he needs to be there to present information especially the reserve schedule.

I understand the council has determined that it is much more important to have another discussion of spending approximately $2.3 million on new fields than to have a meeting to possibly reduce the sewer fee by $100 per household or $1.0 million in total for the town's taxpayers. 

To the council, all of whom are employed and earning a good income, $100.00 is chump or pocket change. To some seniors however  this could be the difference between buying their medicines or paying their sewer bill. This is especially true today when seniors are earning next to nothing on their savings (Example .01% on $100,000 gives them $10.00 in interest per year. Over the past 50 years they have averaged interest of 5% per year which on $100,000 would provide them with $5,000.00 in income per year). Seniors can not afford to invest in riskier assets (Stocks etc) as if they lose money they have no way to recover their losses. 

As to the new fields, the standard argument is that the cost is only a few dollars a year so why the problem. At the present time we are paying approximately 2.5% of current market value in property taxes (check your last revaluation market value and current taxes to confirm this) where the average in the USA is only 1.25%.

We got to this high level by adding just a few dollars a year over the past 50 years or so. It has to stop someplace/time. I believe the council has an obligation to discuss this issue at the next Council meeting even if the town manager and the Water Pollution organization do not attend. I have a copy of their budget and have sent the council questions I have. Also the council should demand a copy of their reserve schedules which I have not been able to obtain, which is criminal. 

I hope I am able to get this published in the JI, Reminder and Patch so that people can ask questions before the elections. 

Don Gonsalves