Water Flowing Up

Checked your water bill lately? Mamaroneck residents’ water bills have risen 70% and the Larchmont Board just approved a 30% increase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This letter was submitted by former Mamaroneck Village Board member Tom Murphy:

To the Editrix:

The Democratic candidates for Trustee of the Village of Mamaroneck    incumbents Toni Pergola Ryan and John Hofstetter and first-time candidate Sid Albert – understand and appreciate that Village residents are upset and frustrated  by the recent 75% rate increase in their water bills. Not only is the increase substantial, but it was set without any public discussions by the Board of the Westchester Joint Water Works (WJWW).  For too long, the workings of the WJWW have been shrouded in secrecy. The Democratic candidates call for common sense reforms in the governance of WJWW to provide transparency to Village residents.

Toni, John and Sid propose that WJWW board meetings be open and televised so residents can view and participate in a process that directly affects their pocketbooks, and that WJWW post on its website annual budgets and financial audits for recent years, and the financial analysis that was reviewed by its Board in determining this year’s rate increase.

Said Sid Albert, “Our proposed reforms are meant to open up to public scrutiny the finances and operations of WJWW.  We hope that the Mayor of Mamaroneck and the Supervisors of the Towns of Mamaroneck and Harrison, who comprise the WJWW Board, will act quickly to implement these basic reforms.”

Trustees Ryan and Hofstetter also called upon Mayor Rosenblum to substantiate his assertion that "The reasons underlying the increase in the water rates are based upon the facts and financial conditions that had long been ignored by the previous Boards of Trustees in the Village of Mamaroneck.”  Last year, the Village’s Board of Trustees, far from ignoring any known need, voted to accept the 17% increase in water rates recommended by WJWW to close the projected gap between revenues and expenses; the Mayor knows this because he was present at the April 17, 2009 Trustee public meeting at which the rate increase was approved. Trustees Ryan and Hofstetter stated that “Informed and rational public discussion is soiled by the mayor’s baseless accusations. We call upon the Mayor to retract his statement and to focus his efforts on supporting our proposed reforms to bring transparency to the rate increases and to WJWW overall operations."

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT TOM MURPHY AT 201-522-2428 OR MURPHY365@AOL.COM

3 Comments

  1. This is so “one sided” and I image the Edrix doesnt publish letters against what is said above. But imagine televising WJWW meetings on LMC-TV? Laughable – and who do you think pays for LMC-TV? Yes taxpapers do. That would be some waste. What would be next? televising every single meeting held by every agency in all two Villages and the Town?
    As for the water (usage) or “tax” – which it really is NOT – it’s a small part of one’s over all bill compared to other RE and school taxes.
    In otherwords- Mr. Murphy’s statement is all political
    editrix Most opinions are one-sided. That’s why it’s a letter to the Editrix. (pls note spelling, thanks)

  2. William:

    “Who do you think pays for LMC-TV? Yes taxpapers do. That would be some waste.”

    Taxpayers don’t pay for LMC-TV. It is funded by franchise fees. Televising as a way to introduce public scrutiny is reasonable after a 75 percent rate hike.

  3. [quote][i]Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives. A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or tragedy or perhaps both.[/i]
    -James Madison[/quote]

    [quote][i]Information is the currency of democracy.[/i]
    – Unknown[/quote]

    Yes, real transparency in the government of our Town and two Villages is needed.

    As one of the purposes of LMC-TV, and one of the reasons subscribers pay a franchise fee, is for a ‘Government’ channel, LMC should broadcast the entire open meetings of the governing ‘boards’ of each of the three municipalities, not simply portions.

    As it is, our municipal ‘governments’ negotiate a franchise fee to be collected from Cable-TV subscribers – a non-tax tax – and it seems can then influence what is ‘broadcast’.

    Can we see through this NY? 🙂

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