MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING

OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

45 BROAD STREET, CUMBERLAND

MARCH 12, 2008

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:03pm by Council President Higgins.       

 

The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.   

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Council President Higgins, Councilors Mutter, Ackerman, Lemois, Albuquerque, Morris and Kirkpatrick    

 

Also present Mayor Daniel J. McKee and Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

A.  ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC HEARING:

 

1.  #08-07 – An Ordinance amending Water Rates for the Town of Cumberland

 

Public Hearing opened at 7:04pm

 

Mayor McKee thanked the Council for calling and attending this special meeting to address important issues relating to the Water Department and the General Fund.  He explained that the issues with the Water Department involve more than discolored water in the summer.  He pointed out that there is a financial issue and a customer service issue but they are related.  He clarified that the customer service issue is one that everyone is aware of, the discolored water.  He further explained that the general fund has been funding the water fund at a large amount and they need to make some adjustments because in terms of cash flow it is no longer possible for the general fund to continue funding water and it is no longer fair to the non-Pawtucket water users.  He pointed out that they are working on capturing $900,000 through a grant as well as bringing on Alan Brodd to assist the Water Department through this challenging period.  He also would like to reconvene the ad hoc Water Commission that he had started in his last administration to assist the Water Department because in the past they were very helpful.  Mayor McKee mentioned that they are in the process of creating a new wholesale water source.  He explained that this ordinance would increase all charges 4 percent as well as increase the Pawtucket Water Supply Board Surcharge by 102 percent.  He informed that part of the intent of this ordinance is to have the increase reflected in the next billing in order to accelerate collections.  He concluded that they intend on creating an annual increase at a later date. 

 

Councilor Morris asked what would be the make-up of the ad hoc Water Commission that the Mayor referred to.          

 

Mayor Mckee replied that the make-up is not spelled out but it could be any individual who has relative experience.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MUTTER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ALBUQUERQUE AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AMEND LINE 10 BY STRIKING, “JULY 2008” AND REPLACING IT WITH “DECEMBER 31, 2007”.  VOTE 7/0.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MUTTER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ALBUQUERQUE AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AMEND LINE 14 AND PAGE 2, LINE 1 BY ADDING A COLUMN ENTITLED “% CHANGE” AS WELL AS AMEND LINES 16 THRU 24, 30, 34 & 38 BY ADDING “4%” UNDER THE “% CHANGE” COLUMN AND ADDING “102%” TO PAGE 2, LINE 5, AND “0%” TO LINES 7-9.  VOTE 7/0.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MUTTER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR ACKERMAN AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY ADD TO LINE 24 BY ADDING, “SECTION 5: MONETARY AND PERCENTAGE TERMS MAY VARY SLIGHTLY DUE TO ROUND OFF EFFECT TO NEAREST WHOLE DOLLAR OR NEAREST WHOLE PERCENTAGE POINT”.  VOTED 7/0. 

 

Council President Higgins asked Tom Bruce what is the expected revenue from this increase.

 

Mr. Bruce replied that they are estimating that the expected revenue from this increase will be approximately $1.9 million.  He also added that they will make up $400,000 in delinquent charges.   

 

Councilor Mutter stated that when the Finance Sub-Committee met with the auditors they stressed that the Town’s number one priority at this time was to repair the Water Department’s fiscal situation and its demand on the general fund hence why they are moving this item up as quick as possible.  He added that it is important to remember that there was the $2.8 million dollar deficit that was advanced from the general fund and the infrastructure repairs made through this fund in which the money was not available and had to be paid out of the general fund.  He also mentioned that ordinance 02-17 allows the administration to automatically increase the Pawtucket Water Supply Board surcharge as needed as the price goes up which was never done and actually was lowered.  He stressed that they have a situation where they are losing money and draining the general fund.  He concluded that there were opportunities to address the situation in the last two years while this was occurring and that opportunity was not taken so it was left in their hands to make some of these changes. 

 

Public Hearing closed at 7:18pm

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MUTTER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR LEMOIS AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVE AS AMENDED BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MUTTER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR KIRKPATRICK AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 7:30PM.  VOTE 7/0.

 

 

                                                                                                _____________________________

                                                                                                Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk