By Pattie Pacella, Neighb News Correspondent
The Acushnet Selectboard discussed the FY20 Water and Sewer rates at their meeting on 9/10. Kathy Silva of the DPW presented her recommendations to the board.
Ms. Silva stated that last year had no increase in water, and she recommended a first tier increase only of $.40 (forty cents).
Ms. Silva explained that he increase would cover those residents that use from zero to one thousand cubic feet of water per quarter. She used the example of a resident that using 1500 cubic feet of water, would be billed an additional $6.00 per quarter.
Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar stated he understood the need to have a surplus and was in favor of the increase.
The board voted unanimously to increase the water rate per the recommendation.
Ms. Silva also recommended an increase on the sewer rates to $1.00 per cubic foot for every tier unit, stating that the sewer undesignated fund balance is low at $200,000 and she would like to see at least half a million dollars in that account for infrastructure.
The board unanimously approved the $1.00 increase on each tier.
In other business, the Selectboard met with Attorney Darren Klein of Kopelman & Paige regarding the next step in the Police Chief hiring process.
Attorney Klein advised the Selectboard that the assessments have been completed and as soon as Acushnet calls for the list, they should get it in hand. Mr. Klein stated that the Selectboard would receive the names of the top three people, ranked accordingly.
He stated it would then be up to the Selectboard to interview the candidates. He suggested they ask the same questions and move forward from that point.
Mr. Klein also explained that the Selectboard would make the final decision and they usually ask for a recommendation from the current Police Chief.
Mr. Cabral asked if there was a way to interview the candidates without knowing their rank on the list so the board would not be biased.
Mr. Klein stated he would review their questions or topics of questions that they would like to ask the candidates and give them his feedback.
The Selectboard asked Ms. Hebert, the Interim Town Administrator to put in a request in to ask for the list of candidates.
In other business, the Selectboard voted unanimously in support of the remote participation policy for the Town as a whole as well as for their own board. Mr. Cabral reminded Town Boards and Committees that they would need to adopt the policy for themselves separately.
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