Council votes to hire consultant to help explain utility ordinance

An informational meeting on the issue is set for next week.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- After some hesitation, city council voted Tuesday to hire a consulting firm to help explain a utility issue to voters.
Council has placed a proposed ordinance on the May ballot that, if approved, would allow the city to negotiate utility rates.
Councilman Walt Bezeredi, who has pursued the issue, said he wanted voters to hear both the good and the bad of the proposal.
The proposed hiring of the consultant had been tabled at a committee meeting last week when city Auditor James Armeni questioned the expense.
Armeni on Tuesday repeated his concern that if voters defeat the issue, council may still face consulting costs.
But officials said that without an agreement, the consulting firm, AMPO Inc. of Columbus, would not come to explain the issue before the election. And without more attention and explanation, officials added, the issue is likely to fail.
Bezeredi introduced a resolution from council's floor, saying, "The timing is imperative."
Cost
The consulting firm will charge the city $75 an hour. Bezeredi said he assumed that would include travel time from Columbus. But if the issue passes, AMPO would then be paid by the utility company, according to Bezeredi.
The agreement also calls for the contract to end after 90 days if the issue fails. Bezeredi said the company told him it would simply walk away from the agreement if voters reject the issue.
Council finally voted unanimously to approve the issue. An informational meeting for the public was set for 4 p.m. next Wednesday at city hall.
Bezeredi said an East Palestine resident will explain that city's experience. In the first year of its agreement, East Palestine residents paid lower rates but paid higher ones in the second year.
Bezeredi said Salem would probably focus on natural gas rates since electric rates are already low.
If voters approve the plan, there would be a series of steps during which utility contracts would be negotiated and approved by council and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Customers could decide to drop out of the program.
wilkinson@vindy.com