Change in water policy drained (12/18/07)

Outgoing city council members went out with a bang.

A council which typically sees eye-to-eye was divided Monday on the topic of water bill adjustments. In the end, there was a split vote and a motion to adjust the water portion of water/sewer bills got more nays than yeas. Many voted with red faces.

Monday night's Portland City Council meeting was the last for Dolphus Stephens, Jerry Leonhard, Glen Bryant and Jim Sanders. Leonhard lost his attempt to get re-elected, Sanders lost an attempt to get elected as the city's mayor, and Stephens and Bryant did not seek re-election.

At the Nov. 19 council meeting, Bryant brought up the notion of adjusting the water portion of water/sewage bills to help those who have large water bills caused by leaks. The city's current policy is to adjust the sewage portion of large water bills to a three-month average prior to the leak.

Bryant said getting the water portion adjusted was something he wanted to accomplish before his term ended. He was unsuccessful Monday night.

"I'm not very happy about it," he said after the meeting. "I really wanted to get that" passed.

Council members had differing opinions Monday on what to do about adjusting the water portion of high bills.

Some felt it was unfair to put such a financial burden on residents who may already be hurting financially. Others, felt it was unfair to help those residents who should have been monitoring their water usage and repaired the leak before their bills got too high.

Before council members voted, they heard comments from a Portland Board of Works member and the city's water department superintendent.

Bob McCreery, a member of the board of works, told the council that he wasn't against the notion of adjusting the water portion of large bills, but council members should take their time in making a decision.

"(You) need to go slowly to consider what is best," McCreery said.

"It's probably not a good decision" to adjust the water portion of the bills, said Doug Jackson, water department superintendent. "If you have a policy, you better have some teeth in it." Jackson predicted that if the leak adjustment policy is changed the board of works would receive a lot more requests for adjustments.

Sanders said there were only eight requests for high water/sewage bill adjustments this year. "I'd say that's not excessive," he said.

Council president Judy Aker said she feels it's fair to adjust the sewage portion of large water bills caused by leaks.

She suggested that a committee be formed to research the idea of adjusting the water portion of the bills.

"Well, we've done that before," Bryant said, clearly frustrated. "We did it before and with (Jackson's) help it was turned down."

"I'm not totally against this," Jackson said. "You need to come up with a resolution that's good for everybody."

Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, suggested council members do some more research on the topic before making a decision.

"We brought this up a month ago and put it off and we might as well put it off again so the new council" can vote on it, Sanders said with frustration. "So you'd get some different votes, see," he said to Jackson and McCreery.

Aker echoed her earlier comment that the matter should be tabled and researched some more by a committee.

"I think it needs to be voted on tonight with what we've heard," Sanders said. Bryant agreed and made a motion to approve adjusting both the water and sewage portion of bills.

Before voting, Stephens said, "The current policy works, I think. I don't think we can do it tonight with what we've heard."

Sanders and Bryant cast the only votes in favor of the change. Aker, Stephens, Bill Gibson and Leonhard cast the dissenting votes. Kip Robinette did not attend the meeting.

Also Monday, council members:

•Voted to encumber funds for items that have been purchased but not received.

•Learned that Gibson has been chosen to replace Stephens on the board of works. Gibson will be representing the council on the board.

•Said goodbye to the outgoing council members. Those leaving were given plaques.

•Were introduced to new Portland Fire Chief Matt Aker and new assistant fire chief Jim Wehrly. The two began their new roles on Dec. 7 after Mike Thomas resigned as fire chief.[[In-content Ad]]