NORTHAMPTON — In advance of the City Council’s final vote scheduled for Thursday on controversial water and sewer rate changes, Mayor David Narkewicz announced Tuesday that he will delay for a year new fire line fees.
Those fees, ranging from $10 per quarter to $360 per quarter depending on the length of the line, were scheduled to take effect July 1.
“I hope this information is helpful as the City Council prepares to take its second and final vote on the proposed (fiscal year 2017) volumetric water and sewer rates later this week,” Narkewicz said in a memo sent to the council.
Narkewicz said the delay is in response to comments he has heard, including those made during a heated meeting he held last week for business owners. Discussion at the meeting moved beyond water and sewer rates to the city’s role in supporting a downtown economy which several business owners said is struggling.
Business and property owners at the meeting also pushed back on fire line fees, arguing that fire suppression systems are required by the state. During the meeting Narkewicz conceded that point, but also noted that business and property owners have the option of setting up chemical-based systems that do not require city infrastructure.
“This fee – sometimes referred to as a ‘ready to serve’ fee – is common in many other Massachusetts cities including here locally in Springfield and Westfield,” Narkewicz said in his message to the council.
The City Council voted 8-1 on March 17 to give initial approval to the mayor’s proposed new water and sewer fees. A final vote is scheduled when the council meets at 7 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers.
Under the current flat rate, all users are charged $5.58 per 100 cubic feet for water, fixed quarterly fees and $6.08 per 100 cubic feet for sewer.
The proposed fee structure, however, distinguishes between smaller and larger customers, splitting smaller users into two tiers which Narkewicz said promotes conservation. Users with 1-inch water meters or smaller — 95 percent of the city’s customers — would pay a rate of $4.36 per 100 cubic feet for the first 1,600 cubic feet, and $5.82 per 100 cubic feet for use beyond that. Those with larger meters would pay a single rate of $5.72 per 100 cubic feet.
All customers would pay sewer rates of $7.52 per 100 cubic feet. Most users, who do not have separate sewer meters, would be charged based on 80 percent of water consumption. The proposed structure also significantly raises fixed fees — from $1 to $12.64 a quarter for the smallest user.
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.