Posted by Ed on March 7, 2007, 8:31 pm Aging infrastructure, equipment that has outlived its life span and state mandates have left Department of Public Works Director Abdul Alkhatib looking at a $31 million capital project wish list for the 2008 fiscal year. The biggest hit on the list comes in the form of a $9.5 million bond for improvements at the wastewater-treatment plant, as required by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP has ordered the town to decrease the amount of phosphorus in the water discharged from the plant into the Concord River from .6 parts per million to .2 parts per million by 2008. Phosphorus acts as a fertilizer, promoting the growth and algae in the river. The plant must also be upgraded to release no more than 357 parts per million of aluminum into treated water. Currently, there is no limit on the amount of aluminum that can legally be found in water flushed from the treatment plant. The water division is looking for a $1.4 million bond for water-meter replacement. The town has 14,000 water meters, at an average age of 11 years, costing the town thousands of dollar each year in lost revenue. "Twenty percent of the town's water is unaccounted for, it is going somewhere," said Alkhatib. He explained that water meters should be replaced every 10 years. As they age, they slow down and are no longer able to accurately read how much water is being used, which leads to people being billed for less water than they are consuming. New meters can also allow the town to bill monthly, rather than quarterly. Citing public safety concerns, Alkhatib is requesting $300,000 for the design of a new 2-million-gallon water tank to replace the 57-year-old 1-million-gallon tank on Crosby Hill. Alkhatib said the volume in the current tank is inadequate to meet peak hour demand and fire protection. "If we have a catastrophe, we will have a problem," said Alkhatib. "The 1-million-gallon tank can only supply 300,000 to 350,000 gallons before losing pressure." More than $1.1 million in requests comes in the replacement of 16 vehicles and pieces of heavy equipment, most of which are 15-20 years old and have logged well over 100,000 miles each. Many are unsafe to drive or are dead, with repair bills that exceed the value of the vehicle. "Looking at the equipment we have, it is deplorable," said Cemetery Division Superintendent Charles Faria. An 18-year-old 3,000-pound crane log loader sits quietly at the DPW. It is currently off the road, unable to pass inspection. Alkhatib explained that parts are no longer available for the vehicle, which will cost $100,000 to replace. It is critical for the removal of dangerous and fallen trees. Faria said that last week the town rented a crane log loader, at $1000 for eight hours, to remove a tree on Shawsheen Road whose roots were weakened by a water-main break. Tewksbury facing $3.5M shortfall "We had predicted that this was the year when the rubber would hit the road," Selectman Joe Gill said after the town manager's budget presentation. "Mr. Cressman has certainly painted a lousy picture." Cressman is proposing a $79.7 million budget for the next fiscal year, which kicks off on July 1. He was quick to note last night that this budget would not be his final recommendation, not least because of the towering deficit. "It is necessary to have some discussion as to which direction the town of Tewksbury wants to progress," he said. "This discussion will probably be the most serious discussion in over 15 years." Cressman said the town does have the choice of slashing budgets to bridge the gap, but selectmen called that option "devastating." Cressman had noted that he had already cut back department's budget requests by more than $680,000 to shrink the deficit, eliminating plans to hire two new police officers to combat drug use in town and the purchase of new equipment for the Department of Public Works, among other things. Several selectmen said they are hoping to get help from the Blue Ribbon Committee, a group of local business leaders that has reviewed the town's finances and will likely be reporting back to the board later this month. But at least one selectman said that the town may have little choice but to resort to taxes to balance the budget, in light of meager state aid. "We've finally hit a wall," Selectman John Ryan said. "Taxes are going to be the way of the future." Cressman said the usual suspects are impacting the budget, including declining new growth, sluggish state aid and "extraordinary increases" in the costs of health insurance, pensions and special education. The budget does seek to maintain a healthy "free cash" fund -- one of Tewksbury's shortfalls in previous years -- by stabilizing it at $2.4 million. But Cressman noted that the funds might be "facing a downslide" by fiscal year 2009, as there will be no other one-time revenue. Free cash is a rainy-day fund that contains money that was budgeted but not spent, along with unexpected revenue. Free-cash accounts are scrutinized both by lenders and bond-rating agencies. It is typically recommended that they represent about 5 percent of a community's operating budget. Cressman warned selectmen last night that Tewksbury might want to take a positive approach to this budget season. He noted that the "negativity" surrounding last year's budget process had affected the attractiveness of Tewksbury's schools and residential options. "The key here would have to be collaboration," Finance Committee Chairman Todd Johnson agreed.
24.34.144.49
Please read and Comment, Caution Read Carefully!
Here are two links and full text which prove what we have been saying on Forced housing and the ¨SHORT TERM¨ temporary budget quick fix relating to the power plant smoke and mirror concept.
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_5374838
Here is the link for the Tewksbury Article
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_5374827
Billerica DPW chief has $31M wish list too keep town in check
By Jennifer Amy Myers, jmyers@lowellsun.com
Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated:03/07/2007 11:41:16 AM EST
BILLERICA -- Keeping up with 250 miles of road in a 350-year-old town is not cheap.
Thanks to Abdul for his honesty
By Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl, amayer-hohdahl@lowellsun.com
Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated:03/07/2007 11:40:51 AM EST
TEWKSBURY -- Town officials are warning that Tewksbury has reached a turning point, as they faced the prospect last night of a $3.5 million shortfall in Town Manager David Cressman's proposed fiscal year 2008 budget.
Both towns are suffering from ¨SHORT TERM THINKING¨
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