Where to begin??? It appears that, at the advice of their attorney, the BCWA has decided not to settle their obligation with the Anawan Club. Kerching!!! I was at a BCWA meeting where it was stated that there was no need to make the required repairs because "we didn't need them (Anawan) any more."
For the BCWA to NOT tape this important meeting so that ALL of the ratepayers could view it online is unfathomable! Our taping committee was assured that the taping would go on after they advised us that they wanted to look elsewhere for this service. At this time of year, when everyone is very busy with family and the holidays, I believe that they were counting on a poor attendance last night. There were about 6 people there that were non-related to the meeting.
At our forum two years ago we talked about the cow manure getting into the water (the famous slide of the cow on the hill) and explained how it would be more economical to purchase water from other sources and have the plant be a distribution point. This was exactly the plan stated by the executive director last night, including the reference to the cow manure!
She also said that there will be no layoffs and that people will be cross-trained. The new union contract that she negotiated prohibits layoffs and also stipulates that if an employee is re-assigned to a lesser paying job, he/she gets her same rate of pay.
"Modifying" the Bristol County Water Act should be interesting. How do you take funds that were voted on by the people for one purpose, and redirect them to something else?
Also bear in mind that the main reason that the BCWA water mains are heavily tuberculated is because 5-6 years ago they stopped annual flushing of the pipes because it was "too expensive". Now there was a great decision.
Ann Strong's question about why we need to have a "BCWA" was on point.
What do you think about the reasoning that they need to push this rate hike through now because there will not be a quorum of directors in January or February????
Ms. Marchand also stated that the firm that the towns hired that produced the B&E report had no experience in water companies and that their conclusions were false and uneducated. That is why BCWA had to hire a consultant to produce a report that was "more accurate". I believe that the B&E report cost the taxpayers of Bristol, Warren and Barrington over $30,000. How do the taxpayers feel about that?
Rate hike hearing is tonight, 12/20 at Mt. Hope HS 6:00PM.
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