ORDER-2015-36 : Requesting that the Director of Public Works and other appropriate city officials appear before the Board of Aldermen to discuss the effects of the tiered rate structure for water and sewer on multi-family residential units and condominiums.

Transcript (~20 min @ 19:01)

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▶ 19:02 Speaker 2: the committee on appropriations order 2015-36 requesting that the director of Public Works and other appropriate city officials appear before the Board of Aldermen to discuss the effects of the tiered rate structure for water and sewer on multifamily residential units and condominiums thank you I'm seeing

▶ 19:19 Gail Infurna: that we have some constituents out here and we have mr. Schenner in the office in the um audience i'd like to ask for immediate consideration and inferna seeks immediate

▶ 19:28 Speaker 1: consideration of order 215-36 is there an objection to immediate consideration of the order it does not appear to be thank you i'd like to suspend make a motion to suspend the rules

▶ 19:46 Speaker 1: to us mr shen if you come before us alderman inferna moves to suspend the rules in order that we might discuss 215-36 and potentially hear from our public works director is there a second second second by alderman forbes on the motion all those in favor anyone opposed rules are suspended

▶ 20:12 Gail Infurna: order is before you good evening everyone good evening and seeing that we had a number of constituents before us and we have received some emails um or correspondences let's call them do

▶ 20:25 Speaker 3: you have anything new to add to this at the moment no but what i'm here i can while i'm here i can reiterate the commitment that the water and sewer committee made to this board in the spring when we passed the fy 15 rates that we would continue to study this continue to improve it and my department has done that the administration dpw has done that we've we've met with so several not spoken to others in this board with concerns that your constituents are bringing to you and we're going to try to funnel this to the water and sewer committee and attempt to make sure that the rate that is fair and equitable is truly fair and equitable for all parties involved so I can tell you that that is still

▶ 21:11 Gail Infurna: happening we have not closed the door on anything thank you very much mr. chairman if I still have the floor you do yeah while we were doing our budget discussions earlier I know this past year's budget discussions I know this came before us and I believe it may have been Alderman bird that made the request for this to be discussed at the next water and sewer Commission commissioners of bitties meeting that we know was taking place in October it is on the agenda for that so at this time I don't see any purpose for this order to be before us it is a water and sewer committee investigation or you know for them to examine it and I have the complete confidence in them doing that as there is a member of the Board of Aldermen that sits on that commission committee as well as someone who is an expert in that field so at this time it really does serve no often no purpose in front of us so I would like to make a

▶ 22:18 Speaker 1: motion to place this on file alderman inferno is making a motion to place this order on file

▶ 22:24 Speaker 1: second second motion is seconded we're going to continue with discussion before i call for any definitive votes relative to this order please i have alderman Lehman

▶ 22:34 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: blimmerman and then alderman medeiros thank you mr president um i wanted to take the opportunity to just say a couple words on this also although um there weren't any members of the towers that that came down today I think that's because they've been informed that the meeting is happening on October 1st and know that that's the proper venue to have this discussion and so I think many of them will be joining us then but I did just want to say that I know that this is a big concern for many residents in condo buildings that they have looked at being in the tier 3 and and seen some increases and they want to you know find a solution so when this board voted on the water rates there was a great deal of thoughtful and productive discussion on it and there was a commitment made to go forward as mr. Shana mentioned to really look at this and and find a solution and I personally have seen those discussions move forward I've seen the process move forward and I want to thank mr. Shana for that I've had the opportunity to go down to the towers have some of those discussions mr. Shana then took the time to meet with me personally along with mr. Lindstrom from the mayor's office to hear those concerns discuss a few of the options that might move forward and offered to put this and some of the residents from the towers on the agenda for the next water and sewer committee meeting which is happening and it is on the agenda although I know that it requires a little more time than some of the condo owners were hoping for when they are looking at their water bills there there is a proper and available channel to have these conversations and to find solutions and and we can ensure that those solutions are found so because the water and sewer rate committee hasn't met yet there's nothing substantive for this board to talk about today we can actually move forward together and get some results on october 1st and moving forward from the results of that meeting as both an alderman Representatives a ward that has a very large combo condo complex and as a condo owner myself in the city i personally am very committed to moving it forward as well and i will be at the october 1 meeting at 8 30 and i hope that others

▶ 24:36 Monica C. Medeiros: will join me thank you alderman medeiros thank you i did file this order not so much so that we could have another discussion about this but because i had many residents come to me feeling like they wanted an opportunity to come before us and speak about this issue we know as much as we try to get word out that there are issues before us especially when we're setting the water and sewer rates many times people just don't get it until they get their bill and they see the results of the changes and I have had numerous numerous condo owners management companies reach out to me and and in particular some members from the tower who wanted to come before us and felt like they didn't have a means to do this so therefore i had filed this order i am absolutely opposed to placing it on file today i have indicated to many of those people that are proper and normal channels in our our ways of doing business here that an order would be read there would be an opportunity for public participation this evening the order would be read sent to committee and that there would be another opportunity for public participation so to send this and to to be placed on file today

▶ 26:01 Monica C. Medeiros: you know in good faith i didn't object to immediate consideration but apparently i can't have good faith sometimes here that would be a slap in the face to those residents that are expecting to have another opportunity to discuss this this is the Board of Aldermen we set all of the ordinances for the city as well as the rates for the water and sewer so while the Water Rate Commission sets a

▶ 26:32 Monica C. Medeiros: proposed rate structure for us it's ultimately up to us and it's absolutely within our purview and it's absolutely the proper venue to allow people from the public to come and express their opinions to us and and let us know how this is actually affecting them so I would like to see this go to committee hopefully a report out after the April I'm sorry after the October 1st meeting which I just got notice of myself this morning when the city clerk sent it around to us and I will absolutely object to it going to be placed on file

▶ 27:11 Speaker 1: today. Thank you. Thank you. Further discussion relative to this order?

▶ 27:21 Jaclyn L. Bird: Alden Byrd. Thank you Mr. President. I for those that you know are down here tonight expressing their concern we absolutely hear you and we've been many of us following this issue for several months and we've been working on the issue for several months and I think what others have alluded to is the fact that there has been a process in place and we're working on that that we all I'm sorry most of us seem to understand that the proper way to do this would be to let it unfold in the water and sewer rate committee not necessarily here since we've already discussed it here when we set the rates with the understanding that we were going to look into this issue further so I guess my question through the chair through the president would be what your goal was Alderman Medeiros in filing this order I guess I don't understand do you have a proposal to change something in place the proposal is to allow the members of the public as it stated well and to discuss the effects that this is having because I don't think it's been clear to the other members of this board what

▶ 28:23 Monica C. Medeiros: these effects are and I have had many people come and ask to come before this board and speak and they have no opportunity to do that unless as the woman who was here earlier tonight unless we have something that's on the agenda from us that is the purpose is to allow the people to have a voice in this

▶ 28:46 Monica C. Medeiros: process and you know there's meetings at 830 in the morning I've had plenty of conversations with people from the mayor's office including our city solicitor and I haven't felt and seen that this process has been moving forward but nonetheless I my purpose for filing this is because I have heard from from people who want to have a voice in this process.

▶ 29:06 Speaker 1: Robin Bird, you have the floor.

▶ 29:07 Jaclyn L. Bird: Thank you, Mr. President. And I certainly agree with wanting them to have a voice, and we've certainly been hearing it and have asked that this be a priority as we go forward. But I think there's an understanding that you respect the process that has to unfold and that actually their voice would be heard in a great way around the table with many of us at those water and sewer rate setting commission meetings. I know I've attended them in the past, even though I'm not a member of the committee, but to make sure that I'm informed on what's happening and up to date on the latest proposed changes. I think bringing this forward tonight, I don't know that it necessarily helps the situation. I think it's just in addition to having them come before us on October 1st, and I'm just not sure what the motivation is behind the order. So I'm gonna support placing it on file because I don't think there's anything new here. I don't think there's any proposal. I don't think there's any new data or information that's being proposed tonight. And I think that we should go ahead with the process the way that it was originally intended, the way that we designed it to be, for it to unfold October 1st. So I'm going to support placing it on file.

▶ 30:14 Speaker 1: Thank you. Alderman McAteer-Margolis.

▶ 30:16 Mary Beth McAteer-Margolis: Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, am supporting placing it on file. As the chairman of the Public Works Department, I have heard from a lot of people as well. I have spoken to Mr. Shenna on several occasions about it and about the process I do think it's important for us to listen to the public and I believe as Alderman Byrd has indicated that that appropriate venue is in the Water and Sewer Commission as you've said it's open to the public it's open to us and really that is where we are taking our lead from that Commission in going forward and in setting the rates and I think that it would it would as a if I were a condo owner or an apartment owner and and it was interesting to me that mr. Cefalo indicated that he thought the people there were Representatives about 500 residents so I think that's an effective number I would want to kind of get my opinion out to as close to the source of the decision-making and advising as possible and I think that that board at that body is the Water and Sewer Commission and I'm sure that our president as a member of that Commission will bring back to us any information any new information or any changes that that Commission sees fit to make at that point you know maybe going forward there'll be an opportunity in this chamber to discuss it again but until such time as the Commission has anything new to add to us or any changes that they would recommend I would also support placing this on file Thank You

▶ 32:01 Speaker 1: Alderman anyone else wish to speak on this order Alderman Inferno thank you

▶ 32:07 Gail Infurna: and I don't want to repeat anything but I just want to have the opportunity through you mr. president to say I absolutely agree with Alderman Byrd's opinion of this I think she said it a lot more eloquently than I could have said it and at this time you know by placing it on file it to me is the proper thing to do it is disingenuous at this point to for Alderman Medeiros to move this forward in any sort of a way because it does not serve a purpose as much as yes we like to hear from the public we want to hear from the public But when we don't have any information, when we have a water and sewer committee that has been appointed by the mayor that has people who have the expertise in this subject looking at this, I think what we need to tell our constituents is that it is being investigated. It is being looked at. it is being looked at in the proper venue and they will report back to us as you are the standing member on that and I know you will report back to us and get it you know on the agenda for any sort of discussion in due time before budget hearings come before us again so I have complete faith in that process so at this time once again you know I will say my motion to place it on on file which has already been duly seconded there's a motion already before the

▶ 33:27 Speaker 1: Alderman Medeiros for the second time.

▶ 33:30 Speaker 4: I see Alderman Wright.

▶ 33:31 Speaker 1: Oh, Alderman Wright for the first time. I'm sorry, Alderman. Thank you, Mr. President.

▶ 33:34 Francis X. Wright Jr.: I agree with a lot of what's been said here tonight. The only thing I guess I don't agree with is placing it on a file. Senator, the committee, when it comes to committee, at that point, Alderman Kahn can report back to us. And if we're satisfied with that, then we can table it.

▶ 33:53 Speaker 1: Any further discussion on the motion? Medeiros, did you want to be heard again?

▶ 34:00 Speaker 4: Yes.

▶ 34:03 Monica C. Medeiros: and i just should this be placed on file today i just want to publicly apologize to those people who i told them that this would probably go to committee and they would have another opportunity to speak about this again because i had every belief that this committee would send this order to committee have a discussion and then ultimately send it back to be placed on file but if that's what happens i'm just going to apologize for them i'm sorry

▶ 34:31 Jaclyn L. Bird: alderman bird for the second time as alderman medeiros apologizes um i would like to invite them again to the proper venue of october 1st friday morning i'm sorry wednesday morning in the mayor's conference room where they will have plenty of time to talk about this very specific issue um i wanted to ask mr shenna um if a recommendation were to come out of the commission let's say at the october meeting for some sort of um any any sort of of adjustment with the rates that we set for this year what would the time frame be on actually having further discussion on those rates would it be immediately or would it be sometime in the

▶ 35:07 Speaker 3: spring when we set next year's rates well i can't speak for the entire committee but in october we start our preparation for the fy 16 rates so there will be the rates that will come before you next spring for implementation um july 1st of 2015. but i mean that everything is up for

▶ 35:28 Jaclyn L. Bird: discussion at that point i think i think the issue that i have with this order is the idea that we're giving false hope to residents and owners of condominiums i think that certainly we want to hear all of their concerns i know that alderman lemmerman in the spring and i seconded this asked for information about what other communities are doing on condominium complexes i believe that the committee is working on that to try to find some solution to this correct but the idea that somehow this discussion is going to take place and have massive changes before let's say November or December for for ratepayers okay I don't know that so I think my concern is the motivation again behind this order when we know that there is a commission meeting where people are going to be able to sit down and be heard within the next two weeks I think that we should be looking for solutions and not looking for you know political

▶ 36:23 Speaker 1: decision so thank you mr president thank you alderman Tramontozzi tozy for the first time thank

▶ 36:26 John N. Tramontozzi: you mr president i think the bottom line here is um and i'm directing this to public works director mr shenna is we have heard um the issue relative to water and sewer rates many times over and over again that you are continuing to look at the rates as established and we'll take into consideration those condominium owners and how the condominium associations are billed whether they have one meter multiple meters and so forth the bottom line though is that if you were to make a proposal for changes that would affect the condominium associations you would send an order to the board of aldermen and at that time you'd also the board of aldermen would also have a public hearing

▶ 37:24 John N. Tramontozzi: on those proposed changes we would discuss it in committee and then ultimately have a final vote on it is that the is that your understanding of the process will be 100 correct right so your opportunity to hear from the public hear from us uh hear from the administration through the water

▶ 37:40 John N. Tramontozzi: and sewer committee which again meets on october 1st will be an opportunity to review that those proposals and suggestions correct okay that's good i'm i'm satisfied that that is the proper course to take i am hopeful that there will be some recommendation forthcoming by the administration the public works department relative to some possible changes and i look forward to that coming to the board as an order that will be presented to the board of aldermen for full discussion at a appropriate committee meeting thank you actually

▶ 38:20 Speaker 1: a point of information any recommendations of the board relative to these issues comes before us as a proposed ordinance change these are matters of ordinance correct thank you for that that question. Alderman Medeiros for the third time. I pass, Alderman President. Any further discussion

▶ 38:36 Speaker 1: relative to the motion? There's a motion that's been made and seconded to place this order on file. All those in favor of placing the order on file, indicate by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed? Opposed. Motion passes. The order will be placed on file. Could we move from order? Do we