Board of Aldermen Page 11
November 9, 2016
O-16-023
Endorser: Mayor Jim Donchess
Alderwoman Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja
Alderman-at-Large Lori Wilshire
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderman Mark S. Cookson
Alderman David Schoneman
Alderman Don LeBrun
Alderman Ken Siegel
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien
Alderman Tom Lopez
Alderman-at-Large Brian S. McCarthy
Alderman June M. Caron
AUTHORIZING FREE HOLIDAY PARKING AT METERS IN ZONE III WHICH INCLUDES THE
ELM STREET AND HIGH STREET PARKING GARAGES FROM DECEMBER 11, 2016,
THROUGH JANUARY 2, 2017
Given its first reading; assigned to the COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE by President McCarthy
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Robert Sullivan, 12 Stony Brook Road
I'd like to talk about two issues this evening. One is about the water coming into our home and the other is
about the water leaving our home, specifically Pennichuck Water Works and wastewater. Recently we have
been receiving a couple of sticker price shocks in the Telegraph. Pennichuck announced a 19.5% rate
increase and | believe | also read that wastewater bills are being proposed to be increased by 15%. If this
isn’t correct | don’t mind you correcting me. Let’s talk about the water leaving our homes first. | understand
there is going to be a public meeting, | believe it’s November 21* and | was going to request of Alderman
Clemons to maybe consider a public hearing so that citizens can come in and ask questions about why it’s
being proposed to increase our wastewater bills by 15% because frankly, | don’t follow these proceedings
like | used to but this is news to myself and many of the people that live in my community. It seems that a
15% increase is rather steep. | believe it went through the Board of Public Works. When you all of a sudden
propose a 15% increase in water rates over the previous year, is oversight being performed pertaining to
these issues? Maybe this will be on the record and | will send Alderman Clemons an e-mail but | would like
to make sure that citizens, when they come into these public meetings, especially these sticker price shock
announcements, are allowed to ask questions of management of the system. I’m a little concerned that a
public hearing wasn’t called.
President McCarthy
Mr. Sullivan, | am certain that will actually be allowed at the public comment period during the meeting.
Mr. Sullivan
| just want to make sure that during that public comment period that the citizens are allowed to ask questions
and receive answers.
President McCarthy
They can ask questions. Whether they will get complete answers or not is...| think the questions that will be
asked will be very similar to the ones that members of this Board will ask.
Mr. Sullivan
Also the presentation prior to the question and answer session so that we can understand in layman’s terms.
Now let’s talk about the water coming into our homes. Several months ago in the Telegraph it was
