An ordinance that would increase water rates by 5 percent in 2016 and another 5 percent in 2017 for Sayreville residents was introduced by the Borough Council on Nov. 23.
Moved by Councilman Art Rittenhouse, the ordinance was created amidst concerns from Chief Financial Officer Wayne Kronowski during the Nov. 9 meeting.
Noting that the borough exceeded its budget for water repairs, Kronowski argued for the necessity of a rate increase and requested it be effective by Jan. 1. Issues surrounding Sayreville’s water rates date to June 22, when the rates were first discussed by the Borough Council.
With the quarterly payment currently at $23.95, a 5 percent raise would boost the rate up to $25.15, and an additional 5 percent increase would cause the rate to hit $26.40.
Objecting to the ordinance’s introduction was Councilman Daniel Buchanan, who brought up an earlier attempt to raise water rates that was withdrawn prior to Sayreville’s elections. According to Buchanan, Rittenhouse opposed changing the rates in a subcommittee meeting that took place in October.
“At that meeting, I was told by Art that we were fine with the water rates and we no longer needed to have a rate increase at this time,” Buchanan said. “But now, a month later, after the election, we now need water rate increases again.”
Rittenhouse responded that the current ordinance was being motioned because Kronowski “explained and asked that (the ordinance) be put on the agenda and nobody disagreed with having it on the agenda” at the Nov. 9 meeting.
He added that the original was withdrawn because it contained “inaccurate information” from Borough Attorney Michael DuPont that created “confusion,” but Buchanan remained concerned about the timing of the ordinance’s return. “Right before the election, it disappears,” Buchanan said. “Election’s over and it comes up again. I just think it’s more games being played and it’s at the taxpayers’ expense.”
Councilwoman Victoria Kilpatrick also voiced her concerns and joined Buchanan in voting against introducing the ordinance. Speaking to Rittenhouse, Kilpatrick established her decision was motivated by “the comment that there wasn’t the need for the water rate increase” at the subcommittee meeting.
They were overruled by Rittenhouse, Council President David McGill, Councilman Ricci Melendez and Councilwoman Mary Novak in a 4-to-2 vote supporting the introduction.
With the ordinance formally introduced, the status of Sayreville’s water rates will be decided at a public hearing on Dec. 14.