Select Board approves water & sewer rate increases

The Canton Select Board voted on Tuesday night to approve new water and sewer rates that will take effect in October. The rates reflect a 7 percent increase for water and a 4 percent increase for sewer services and will cost the average homeowner an additional $40 per year.

Randy Scollins, the town’s director of finance and a member of the Water-Sewer Rate Advisory Committee, recommended the increases as the best of three options and the least impactful to residents. He said, for instance, they could have delayed the rate changes until 2021, but it would have meant larger increases.

Scollins said the rate hikes were needed in order to meet capital planning expenses and to offset the impacts of COVID-19.

In related news, the board agreed to authorize a $2.6 million bond through the Mass. Water Resources Authority (MWRA) for replacement of water pipes in the area of Elm, Greenlodge, and Dedham streets. The article was approved at the June town meeting. DPW Superintendent Mike Trotta said the entire project will cost approximately $2.75 million and it would start this year and last into the fall of 2021. The 10-year bond will be repaid in annual installments of $260,000 with 0 percent interest. Trotta said the existing pipes are aging and the new ones would eliminate discolored water.

In other news from Tuesday night’s meeting:

* The Select Board agreed to a proposal by member Lisa Lopez and Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) member Harriet Burak to place purple ribbons and signs on several public buildings and lampposts in downtown Canton in support of International Overdose Awareness Day and CAASA’s annual Celebration of Life event on August 31 (see related item on page 6). The ribbons will be placed at the Armando Recreation Center, Police and Fire stations, Town Hall, Pequitside Farm, and the Canton Senior Center. Town Counsel Paul DeRensis had warned the board that it was heading down a “slippery slope” by allowing signs on public property. But members felt that this was a public service message from a town board for a specific event. Although supportive of the signage in this instance, they agreed to consider drafting a new policy regarding signs on public buildings.

* Fire Chief and Emergency Services Coordinator Charles Doody will resume his Friday afternoon COVID-19 telephone updates via the Reverse 911 service, and the Select Board will begin hearing and discussing COVID Task Force updates at each public meeting. Also, the town plans to update its Frequently Asked Questions section on the COVID-19 page on the town website. Board of Health Chair Dr. Julie Goodman told the Select Board Tuesday night that she is concerned about a rise in local case counts, which has increased from an average of one case per day at the beginning of July to three or four cases per day …

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Posted by Mike Berger on Aug 7 2020. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.