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Members Present
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Norman Teed - Supervisor
Carl Beechler - Councilman
Doris Day - Councilwoman
John Dole - Councilman
Linda Nieskes - Town Clerk
Barb Middlebrook - Town Bookkeeper
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Also Present
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John and Kathy Duchesneau
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Call To Order
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The Special Phelps Town Board Meeting/Workshop was called to order by Supervisor Teed at 6:00 PM. The Town Board dispensed with the normal formalities.
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Water & Sewer Rates
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Supervisor Teed said that we were here tonight to discuss the water and sewer
rates for the Town of Phelps. Supervisor Teed said that he had asked Bookkeeper Barb Middlebrook to gather some numbers. Mrs. Middlebrook said
she took samples from some of the people in each district to see what their bills were at the present rate and what they would be at the increased rate. She said a person using only the minimum will go from a rate of $28.00 plus the meter charge of $10.00 to $30.00 plus the meter charge of $10.00 per quarter. She said that means someone using the minimum would go from $38.00 per quarter to $40.00 per quarter. Mrs. Middlebrook said a person using 13,000 gallons at the old rate paid $66.00 per quarter and with the increase they would be paying $76.00 per quarter. She said that would include the water usage charge going from $4.00 per 1,000 gallons to $6.00 per 1,000 gallons. She said she did an
analysis of the water districts and found that of the 62 users on Rt. 96, 13 of those people use the minimum; Orleans has 88 users, 23 use the minimum; Spafford Rd. has 19 users, 5 use the minimum; Melvin Hill Rd. has 39 users, 20 use the minimum; White Rd. has 16 users, 7 use the minimum. Councilman Beechler asked how much water was the minimum. Mrs. Middlebrook said the first 6,000 gallons is the minimum and right now that charge is $28.00, plus the $10.00 meter charge.
Councilman Beechler said the White Road Water District is different. We are paying the Village of Phelps for the Master Meter reading. Councilman Dole said we are still being charged a usage fee by the Village. Mrs. Middlebrook said that was correct. Councilman Beechler said he would like to see the Village decrease the rate that they are charging us for the water. Mrs. Middlebrook said our rates have not been raised and the Village of Phelps has raised theirs twice since they were notified of the increase in the water charge from the Village of Newark in May of 2005. Town Clerk Nieskes said a letter was received at the Town by former Bookkeeper Carole Gostley on May 5, 2005 indicating that the charge for water from the Village of Newark would increase by 11.1% beginning June 1, 2005. She said the letter was sent to Carmen Orlando, Supervisor from John Trickey, Newark
Village Clerk. Councilwoman Day asked what the dollar increase was. Town Clerk Nieskes said the rate went to $1.7498 per 1000 gallons of water, but the
previous rate was not mentioned in the letter. Mrs. Middlebrook said we have to keep in mind that it is not only the water we are paying for but also personnel, electricity, insurance. She said you have to remember that when we raise these rates, we are not going to see any increase in funds until 2007. Supervisor Teed said on average you are not talking much of an increase per household.
Mrs. Middlebrook said the Village also increased their sewer rates from $43.50 to $46.50, so we need to increase ours that same $3.00 to cover what we pay to the Village of Phelps. She said we only bill our sewer customers once a year. She said it is just a wash; we bill whatever the Village charges us. Councilman
Dole said it is just a wash so we do not make anything on the sewer charges. He
said we should really raise it more than the $3.00 to cover our other expenses. Mrs. Middlebrook said it has to be increased at least $3.00 but should be more to again cover personnel, electricity and insurance.
Mrs. Middlebrook reminded the Board that the Water Billing Systems should be updated next year. She said if something happens to the hand-held reader, the company will not be able to repair or replace it. She said a new system will be approximately $5,000. Mrs. Middlebrook asked the representative if there was any way the Town could get a discount on a new system. She said the company representative knows the Town is eventually going to need new water meters for White Road because the meters there now belong to the Village. She said we also still need meters on Melvin Hill Road and should have a supply in inventory as well. She said they are going to see if we purchase a number of meters, perhaps they can work out a discount on the new billing system.
Supervisor Teed asked Mrs. Middlebrook if she felt going from $4.00 to $6.00 per 1,000 gallons would give the Town capital to work on or is it still cutting us short. He said he knows this is going to have to be reviewed again next year. Mrs. Middlebrook said it is hard to say because she is already playing catch up from the last 2 quarters. She said it will definitely be much better.
Councilman Beechler offered the following Resolution, RESOLVED that,
the Town of Phelps increase all water district, except the White Road Water District, from $4.00 to $6.00 per 1000 gallons and we increase the minimum rate from $28.00 to $30.00 and the rate for the people in the sewer district be raised from $43.50 to $48.00. The Resolution was seconded by Councilman Dole, who moved its adoption.
VOTE:
Councilman Beechler - AYE
Councilman Dole - AYE
Councilman Mattoon - AYE
Councilwoman Day - AYE
Supervisor Teed - AYE
RESOLUTION: APPROVED 5 AYES, DEFEATED 0 NAYS
Councilwoman Day said this Resolution is for all water districts, except White Road. She said we will have to have another meeting soon to discuss the rates for White Road. Councilman Beechler said we will have to wait for the Village
to decide what they are going to do about their charge to us. Mrs. Middlebrook said she would contact Mayor Cheney and set up a meeting to discuss the matter.
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Adjournment
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Councilman Beechler, offered the following Resolution. RESOLVED that, the
Special Town Board Meeting/Workshop be adjourned. The Resolution was seconded by Councilman Dole, who moved its adoption. 5 AYES. Motion carried.
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Time
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7:00 PM
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Respectfully submitted,
Linda B. Nieskes
Town Clerk
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