WARREN No reconsideration likely for sewer rates

A $1 million-plus loan payment from the sewer department is due next year.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Reconsideration of a vote to increase city sewer rates appears unlikely.
With four members opposed, city council rejected the 76-cent increase at a meeting earlier this month. Mayor Hank Angelo had wanted to pursue reconsideration of the vote.
The proposal called for the rate to increase from $1.98 to $2.74 per cubic foot of water used by city residents and from $1.79 to $3.85 for outside users.
Reconsideration happens when one council member who voted against the increase makes a motion for reconsideration.
James A. "Doc" Pugh, D-6th; Robert Holmes, D-4th; Robert A. Marchese, D-at large; and Susan E. Hartman, D-7th, voted against the increase.
Holmes, Pugh and Marchese said they wouldn't move for reconsideration. Hartman couldn't be reached.
"Nothing has been shown to me that would make me change my mind," Pugh said. "The four of us are sticking to our guns as far as I've heard."
More information
Pugh and Holmes said they want more information about how much of the money generated by the increase would be used for sewer projects. After the administration said 36 of the 76-cent increase would go for construction, storm water/footer drain removal and reserve, Pugh said that's not enough.
"To get our sewers up to snuff, it's going to take more than $60 million," he said.
"As of right now, it looks like a no," Holmes said.
He wants the breakdown of the amount of money used for sewer construction included in the ordinance. "I'm still not giving out a blank check," Holmes said.
Marchese, who will be out of town and won't attend tonight's council meeting, said he remains opposed to the increase. He favors a small increase yearly rather than a large increase all at once.
"People can adapt fairly well to an increase on a cost-of-living basis, but they can't adapt well to a large increase," he said.
Marchese also said he doesn't understand why employees in the water-pollution-control department perform computer duties for the city when the data processing department could do it.
"At one time that was a creditor department. Now it's a debtor," he said. "I still don't understand how that department's funds have decreased over time."
Anticipated shortfall
Angelo has said an increase is needed because of an anticipated shortfall in the water pollution control department, which has experienced falling revenues the past few years.
He and a consultant that performed a sewer rate study listed decreasing population, water conservation and a decreased industrial and commercial base as reasons the department's revenues have plummeted.
Without reconsideration, Angelo is recommending transferring money out of the general fund to meet water pollution control department expenses. If that doesn't happen, layoffs are likely.
A loan payment of more than $1 million is due in January and a roughly $400,000 bond payment is due next month.
Legislation transferring part of the money is on the agenda for tonight's council meeting along with an ordinance to buy three four-wheel drive vehicles for the police department from the police department's federal forfeiture account. The money was forfeited to the police department from criminals.
"That's a slap in the face to all of the other departments, especially water pollution control, regardless what fund the money is coming from," the mayor said.
"That department won't meet payroll [without money from the general fund] in December, and they want to buy equipment for another department."
denise.dick@vindy.com