water fees

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Mike Ciolino

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Dec 16, 2014, 1:21:27 PM12/16/14
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I'm so angry and disappointed that this passed.

"The majority of Newton homeowners -- and all of our non-profits and business -- are going to see a spike in their sewer bills as a result of the board's misguided efforts to reduce a minority of homeowners' bills," said Chamber President Greg Reibman.

Greer Swiston

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Dec 16, 2014, 2:25:52 PM12/16/14
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Did you write to your Aldermen to express your disagreement?   I heard that there was not a lot of opposition.

Theodore M. Hess Mahan

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Dec 16, 2014, 2:32:59 PM12/16/14
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It was a close vote of 14-9.  Even the most ardent supporters acknowledged that the rate structure needed substantial work and that we would need to review the eligibility to include, for instance, residential buildings over 4 units, nonprofits and businesses.  And there were a number of aldermen who voted for it who said that they wanted the rate for outdoor use raised even higher than projected and the rate for the people who use less water dropped so that people on the lower end would not get such a hit.


The fact is that the average rate was going to go up 3.9% no matter what because of all the work that has to be done to bring the sewer system into compliance with the DEP's administrative consent order.


The water/sewer rates will not be set until next Spring, so there is time to work on evening out the impact of higher water/sewer fees.  If you care about this issue PLEASE email the aldermen at alde...@newtonma.gov.  Other than Greg Reibman's email from the Chamber of Commerce, we mostly heard from supporters of a second meter.


Please let me know if you have any questions.


Ted Hess-Mahan
Alderman-at-Large Ward 3
871 Watertown Street
Newton, MA 02465

When responding, please be aware that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email may be considered a public record, and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

"Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant."  --Louis D. Brandeis



From: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com <westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Greer Swiston <greer...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 2:25 PM
To: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [WNewton] Re: water fees
 
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Mike Ciolino

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Dec 16, 2014, 5:17:08 PM12/16/14
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Thx Ted - I posted on this board - And I know that you and other Aldermen check in here regularly - I thought that was enough.

Who reads email at alde...@newtonma.gov ? - I didn't know this address existed.

m



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Mike Ciolino
VerveBoston

Theodore M. Hess Mahan

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Dec 16, 2014, 5:20:57 PM12/16/14
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Thanks, Mike.


Ted Hess-Mahan
Alderman-at-Large Ward 3
871 Watertown Street
Newton, MA 02465

When responding, please be aware that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email may be considered a public record, and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

"Sunlight is said to be the best disinfectant."  --Louis D. Brandeis



From: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com <westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mike Ciolino <mi...@verveboston.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 5:16 PM
To: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [WNewton] Re: water fees
 

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Greer Swiston

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Dec 16, 2014, 5:21:24 PM12/16/14
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I believe it essentially gets forwarded to the entire board of aldermen the way emailing to dol...@newtonma.gov does.

While aldermen do read this discussion list, there are a lot of other things discussed here that isn't necessarily Aldermanic business.

If you have specific issues that you specifically want them to address as aldermen ... I would suggest issuing the email address that Ted provided.

Greer Swiston

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Dec 16, 2014, 5:27:08 PM12/16/14
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I should further mention that as a general rule, people shouldn't forward emails outside of the group without permission of the poster (a common courtesy)

I realize that people probably do forward things to their friends all the time ... however, those in public office are often held to a higher standard ... so, when you clearly want your issue heard by all the alderman and recognized as a voice to the alderman ... then best to send it to them specifically ... it makes it less ambiguous.

Emily Norton

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Dec 16, 2014, 5:56:20 PM12/16/14
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Also, not all 24 aldermen/women are members of this listserve. 

__
Newton Ward 2 Alderwoman

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” 
— Nelson Mandela

The Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot be kept confidential.

From: Greer Swiston <greer...@gmail.com>
Reply-To: West Newton Neighborhood Group <westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 5:27 PM
To: West Newton Neighborhood Group <westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [WNewton] Re: water fees

Julia Malakie

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Dec 16, 2014, 10:16:18 PM12/16/14
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I emailed the aldermen, including as an attachment a letter I wrote back in 1999. also opposing second meters (the reasons haven't changed). I commented on this Village14 thread http://village14.com/newton-ma/2014/12/aldermen-to-consider-allowing-second-water-meters-for-residents/#axzz3M7Z4adOc


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