By Michael Howell
The Stevensville Town Council agreed last week to initiate a survey to gauge the effectiveness and the general acceptance (or not) of the town’s Utility Bill Reduced Rate Program. The program was designed to establish a fee that would be placed into a fund that could be used to help pay the water and sewer bills for customers who were unable make their utility payments for one reason or another.
Councilmember Jim Crews said he knew that a lot of work had been done setting up the fund and he knows why it was started, but since the fee was not being collected until this past month’s billing he said he has gotten some negative feedback about the program.
“I think this should have gone to a citizen’s vote,” he said. “You are saying you are going to take money out of your pocket and put it in somebody else’s pocket. I think that’s wrong. In America, to me, that is wrong without citizen consent.” He said he knows there is a need for a program, but he wondered if there was not another way to do it. He also wondered, with only six people enrolled in the program, what was going to happen to any excess funds.
Right now all rate payers are paying a $1.52 per month fee into the fund.
Councilmember Robin Holcomb agreed. She said the program was needed but that no one should be forced to participate.
Mayor Paul Ludington said, “It’s only $1.52. That’s not a big deal.” He was doubtful that the Town could run a program that was voluntary. He wondered how it would be implemented. He said that some councilmembers may have received a few complaints, but the majority are paying the fee with no complaints. He said the number of complaints is less than 5% of the rate payers.
“I’d say a good majority supports it,” said Ludington. He said the use the program gets will be reviewed and the fee can be altered at the end of the first year to match the demand.
Crews suggested that people were not aware of the program and that notification in the newspapers was not sufficient. Town Clerk Stacy Bartlett said that every rate payer was individually mailed a notice of the public meeting and the topic.
Councilmember Bob Michelson said that he believed the public process was a good one and that if people didn’t pay attention or didn’t attend it was their fault. But he also expressed disagreement with the idea that a tax was being collected without a vote of the people.
Mayor Ludington corrected him and stated that it was not a tax but a fee for water and sewer users.
Former mayor Gene Mim Mack said that the program was designed to be completely flexible and allow each town council once a year to adjust the fee to match the program use. He said a voluntary system was considered but was determined to be too cumbersome and costly to implement. He said the program was initiated in direct response to a need in the community that was recognized. He said on the whole people were not complaining and the utility fees including this program fee were being paid.
“No one has objected with their pocket book,” he said.
It was moved and approved to direct the mayor to create a survey designed to gauge public acceptance of the program and present it to the council for review.
The council approved a resolution amending the 2015-16 budget authorizing the expenditure of $28,000 for a ladder truck and associated equipment for the Stevensville Fire Department. A previous resolution to amend the budget was approved but then vetoed by the Mayor because the total cost had not been included in the public notice.
The second reading of an ordinance creating rules for the skate park and Bear Mountain Playground was tabled until the next meeting.
An ordinance was adopted on second reading setting out rules for the Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
An ordinance was adopted on second reading changing the municipal building code to include regulations governing dangerous buildings.
These two ordinances that were approved on second reading will go into effect 30 days from the date of approval, which was February 28.
Former mayor Gene Mim Mack, Mayor Paul Ludington and Town Council members paid homage to former member Clayton Floyd who recently passed away. They all mentioned his unwavering dedication to the town, his faithful attendance at meetings even when he was off the council, his commitment to the good of the town and his ability to “agree to disagree” and not hold grudges.
“Clayton always had the best interests of the town at heart,” said Mim Mack, “and he played a valuable role.”