Council defers capacity-fees ordinance after public plea to keep fee at $3,500

A resident urged the Westmoreland City Council not to reduce the development capacity fee, and the council voted unanimously to defer consideration of the capacity-fees ordinance to an August work study.

Chris Jones, who signed up for public comment, said he had reviewed a recent water study and recalled that the town "brought in 83% of the water income from what we needed, and we're short 17%." He told the council that the study recommended roughly a 20% water-rate increase over two years and asked council members not to reduce the capacity fee for builders from $3,500 to a proposed $2,000. "I don't see how if we're gonna have to increase our water and sewer rates for the citizens ... you all assess the capacity fee on the builders ... at $3,500 a few months ago. And now ... voting tonight to try to lower it to 2,000. I don't understand how you in your right mind can vote to lower that knowing the condition of our water and sewers budget," Jones said.

Jones asked that, if council members lowered the fee, they explain their rationale to residents after the vote. He also referenced a nearby community's larger increases, saying Watertown increased water bills by "80 something percent" and that even after the increase their rates remained lower than Westmoreland's.

On the council floor, Vice Mayor Jones moved to defer the second reading on Ordinance 0062025-3 (capacity fees amended) to the August work study; Councilman Staples seconded the motion. The council voted to defer the ordinance unanimously. The record shows the motion was made and approved with no additional substantive discussion during the vote.

The transcript did not record a new fee level being adopted at this meeting; instead the amendment will be reconsidered at the work study session. No formal budgetary offsets or amendments were adopted at the deferral.