Sewer users in Marion will see a significant increase in their sewer bills come this next fiscal year after the Marion Board of Selectmen on June 7 approved the recommendation to increase the rates set by the Water/Sewer Rate Committee.
Finance Director Judith Mooney said a 2.5% base sewer rate hike was simply not enough to cover the cost of future debt related to the sewer treatment plant and the almost $1 million appropriated at Town Meeting for ongoing engineering costs for sewer plant upgrades.
Tier 1 sewer users, which Mooney said includes roughly 85-90% of residents, will see about a 4% increase in their bill. An average household of 2.5 people could see an increase of about $42.30 annually.
Tier 2 users, the scenario being a home of five occupants, will see a $197.30 average increase annually. Tier 3, of which Mooney said there are only limited users, will see an average annual increase of roughly $514.
We feel this [scenario] is the best,” said Mooney. “It meets the revenues. It helps out with the fixed income [households]…”
This sewer rate increase is mainly driven by the imminent National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit renewal that calls for a number of costly upgrades to the existing wastewater treatment plant.
“It’s a definite. You’ll see another increase next year,” said Mooney. “How much? … Right now, we’re concentrating on fiscal year [2017].”
Water rates will see a slight increase of 2.5%, leading to an average increase of $3.92 for the year for Tier 1. Mooney said residents have asked her recently how much one gallon costs, which Mooney said is less than one cent.
In other matters, selectmen approved Police Chief Lincoln Miller’s request to hire a full-time officer to make up for a vacant full-time shift currently covered by part-time officers that may be leaving for full-time positions in other towns, and a full-time shift left vacant by an injured officer out of work for a number of months.
“The coverage for that has cost us considerable overtime,” said Chief Miller. “We are using a lot of overtime and to get an officer up and sent to police academy is twenty-two weeks.”
Miller said he was not looking for a specific appointment that night, simply a vote of support for his recommendation, which he received unanimously.
“I just want to be able to make an actual offer when the time is right,” Miller said.
Also during the meeting, selectmen gave Shea Doonan approval to move forward with the process of acquiring an aquaculture license.
Doonan had initially sought an aquaculture license for a site off Ram Island, but the state denied the license due to the presence of eelgrass.
Shellfish Officer Adam Murphy recommended that the selectmen approve this first step in the process.
“This site looks good; however, we didn’t do a dive survey,” said Murphy. A representative from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries was present, Murphy said, who gave a nod to the site, but nothing is certain until the survey is complete.
The site is used for recreational purposes, such as kayaks and paddleboards, Murphy said, “But it doesn’t appear to impede any of the navigation.”
The matter will require a public hearing in the near future, and the Marion Conservation Commission will also hold a public hearing of its own to approve the project.
Selectmen also approved the appointment of Harold Terpenny as assistant harbormaster/shellfish officer. Harbormaster Isaac Perry said Terpenny was a participant in the Old Rochester Regional High School “School to Work Program” and has demonstrated a remarkable ability and eagerness to learn. Selectman Stephen Gonsalves vouched for Terpenny as well, saying he was a neighbor who is “respectful” and “responsible.”
In other matters, after a brief discussion, the board decided that it would make sense to apply for a grant for a second and a third electric car to add to the town’s fleet.
On another note, selectmen commented on the recent banning of smoking at Silvershell Beach as per the Board of Health. The designated smoking section, which the Board of Health noted was in a poor spot located right at the edge of the beach, will be removed as a result of updated smoking regulations that prohibit smoking in public spaces and work places in Marion.
Board of Selectmen Chairman and Recreation Director Jody Dickerson pointed out that the Board of Health initially chose that particular spot for the designated smoking section three years ago.
Selectmen did not appear thrilled with the complete ban of smoking in public.
“Does that include public sidewalks?” asked Selectman Stephen Cushing. “How far does this go?”
“I think it’s gone far enough,” said Selectman Steve Gonsalves.
“I think we go a little too far sometimes when it comes to the regulations,” said Cushing, referring to the new regulations as a “kneejerk reaction.”
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen is scheduled for June 21 at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry