1.     5:34 P.M.  CALL TO ORDER

 

Present:   Pres. Morrone, Vice Pres. Lowther

                 Councilors LaPietra, Overton, Scialabba, Aiello

                 T. Mgr. Lacey, Co. Clk. LeBlanc

 

        Absent:    Councilor Cordio

                        T. Sol. Conley

                        T. Sgt. Falcone

 

        Also Present:   M. Davy, Assistant Town Manager

                                Cindy Kirchhoff, Acting Finance Director

 

 

2.     Proposed FY2023/2024 Water, Sewer and Transfer Station Budgets – Discussion and Possible Action

(Supporting Document:  Chapter 217 – Solid Waste Ordinance)

 

     Town Manager Lacey provided the Council with 2023 Water/Sewer Rates for South Kingstown, Narragansett, Kent County, Woonsocket and Westerly, which is attached hereto and made part of the record of these proceedings.  He reviewed the comparison rates and water and sewer installation costs. 

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Setting Water Rate Schedules For The 2023-2024 Fiscal Year” ($126.00 per unit Service Charge plus $4.36 per 100 cu. ft. in excess of 4,800 cu. ft. per meter) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

     Town Manager Lacey addressed the proposed water rate, which would increase from $86.00 based on 4,800 cu/ft per year to $126.00 based on 4,800 cu/ft per year.  He addressed personnel with regards to percentages of salaries paid from the Water budget.  He stated that the Water Department fund balance is $13.6 million; that cash on hand is $2 million; and that a fund balance contribution will not be needed to balance the budget. 

 

Motion by Mr. LaPietra, Seconded by Mr. Lowther, that the Finance Board’s FY2023/2024 Recommended Water Budget be accepted.  (So Voted 6 to 0 – Councilor Cordio absent)

 

b.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing The Sewer Use Or Service Charge For Fiscal Year 2023-2024” ($235.00 per unit) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

     Town Manager Lacey addressed the proposed sewer rate, which would increase from $306.00 per unit to $356.00 per unit.  He stated that the Sewer Department fund balance is $18.2 million; that cash on hand is $1.6 million; and that a fund balance contribution is not needed to balance the budget.  He addressed needed upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.  He also addressed personnel with regards to percentages of salaries paid from the Sewer budget. 

 

Motion by Mr. Overton, Seconded by Ms. Scialabba, that the Finance Board’s FY2023/2024 Recommended Sewer Budget be accepted.  (So Voted 6 to 0 – Councilor Cordio absent)

 

c.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing The Ad Valorem Tax On Personal And Real Property For The Fiscal Year 2023-2024” ($0.54 per $1,000 of assessed valuation) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

     Town Manager Lacey reported that there is no increase in the Ad Valorem Tax.

 

Motion by Mr. Overton, Seconded by Ms. Scialabba, that the Finance Board’s recommended FY2023/2024 Ad Valorem Tax of $0.54 per $1,000 of assessed valuation be accepted.  (So Voted 6 to 0 – Councilor Cordio absent)

 

Transfer Station

 

     Town Manager Lacey addressed the permitted fee of $50 per unit/household, which is anticipated to generate approximately $700,000 and will eliminate the need to transfer funds from the General Fund to support the Transfer Enterprise Fund.  He stated that each year the Town would transfer $300,000 to $500,000 to balance this enterprise fund.  He further stated that the Town of Hopkinton paid $16,000 annually for use of the transfer station; however, the Town informed them that the contract fee would be increased to $180,000 annually based on the trash they brought in, and they chose not to renew the contract.  He addressed the sticker program enacted last year, reporting that the Town has issued over 9,000 stickers.  Town Manager Lacey addressed questions posed by Councilor Aiello in an email, dated April 11, 2022, and in a document titled “Enterprise Fund Budget, Town Council Workshop, May 17, 2023,” which are attached hereto and made part of the record of these proceedings.  He reported that the Transfer Station fund balance is $2.6 million and that cash on hand is $1.4 million.  He addressed transfer station actual and projected revenues and needed transfer station improvements.

 

     Town Manager Lacey to research whether every nonprofit, religious, educational, State of RI, tax exempt organization and farm owner should be charged the permitted fee of $50 because it is a fee and not a tax.

 

     Discussion was held regarding a suggestion to use the anticipated solar array revenue to help balance the transfer station budget.

 

     Councilor Aiello stated, for the record, that he is opposed to the current permitted fee of $50 and wants to reduce and eventually eliminate it.

 

Motion by Mr. Overton, Seconded by Mr. LaPietra, that the Finance Board’s FY2023/2023 Recommended Transfer Station budget be accepted.  (So Voted 6 to 0 – Councilor Cordio absent)

 

 

 3.    ADJOURNMENT

 

        7:32 P.M.  Voted Unanimously to adjourn.

 

ATTEST:
	Mary L. LeBlanc, MMC Council Clerk

 

Details of the aforesaid proceedings are available on audio on the Town of Westerly website.