INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “UTILITIES”, which amends Subsec (b) of Sec 17-183 entitled “Charges to be based upon water consumption; rate” to read as follows:

(b) The fixed meter charge portion of the sewer charge shall be determined as follows:

            Meter Size      Annual Fee

                                    5/8                   $40.00

                                    3/4                     70.00

                                    1                      100.00

                                    1 ½                  200.00

                                    2                      310.00

                                    3                      670.00

                        4                      1,140.00                                                         

                                    6                      2,360.00

                                    8                      3,390.00

Such fee shall be prorated quarterly or monthly for users of city water who are billed on a quarterly or monthly basis.                   

SECTION II.  Subsection (c) of Sec 17-183 entitled “Charges to be based upon water

consumption; rate” is amended to read as follows:

(c) The water consumption portion of the sewer charge shall be at a rate of $2.30 per hundred cubic feet of water used based upon the actual quarterly or monthly meter reading of water consumption less an annual exemption of 3500 cubic feet.  Such exemption shall be probated quarterly or monthly for users of city water who are billed on a quarterly or monthly basis.

Mr. Conley explains where we are at this point regarding the sewer use fee.  He explains that the issue requires 4 affirmative votes to pass.  The tax rate will be set later next year.  He goes on to say that the water rate is not an ordinance that implements the budget.  It can be revisited at any time during the year.

Mayor Larisa explains that the water account and sewer account are totally separate accounts.  The proposed sewer budget this year is $4,532,000.

After further discussion, Mayor Larisa states that the Council has an opportunity to raise enough revenue to take care of the City, and to make a reasonable dent in the deficit, and not a penny more.  He says he is proposing that $650,000 more this year is a reasonable proposal. 

Mr. McDonald states that he supports the proposal that has been on the table for two months, which is the original proposal.  He says that if the deficit isn’t reduced, the auditors can force the City to finance it out of the General Fund.  He says $200,000 is the bare minimum - the debt is $1.2 million.  Mayor Larisa states that he is perfectly ready to make a commitment to pay off  $200,000 of the deficit.

Mr. Midgley speaks on the issue.  He says he will make a concession to eliminate the trucks at a rate of $86,000, but that is the only concession he will make, because he has to do what’s right for the City.  He says that this is one of the toughest decisions any councilman can make. 

Mayor Larisa says that every penny of the sewer use fee has to be explained and he does not think that any more than $650,000 will be necessary.  He says that at any time in a given year the Council can increase it if it is necessary.  He also mentions that the vote needs a super majority to pass.

After further discussion, motion is made by Councilman Midgley, seconded by Councilmen Grant and Rogers, to amend the ordinance to $30.00 on the 5/8 meter.  Roll call vote is taken on the motion:

Councilman Grant                Aye

                        Councilman Midgley             Aye

                        Councilman Miranda            Nay

                        Councilman Rogers               Aye

                        Mayor Larisa                          Nay

                        Motion fails on a 3-2 vote.  (This ordinance requires a super majority vote to pass)

Mayor Larisa asks for unanimous consent to place an ordinance on the docket for First Passage, regarding a COLA for spouses of Police and Firefighters killed in the line of duty. 

Councilman Midgley makes a motion to approve for First Passage.  There is no second, and the motion dies for lack of a second.