Town Officials Present: Councilman Alan Grattidge
Councilman Robert Lippiello
Councilman Dorothy Mitchell
Councilman Sandra Verola
Supervisor Ferdinand Acunto

The legal notice appeared in The Gazette on January 16, 2004.

The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Acunto.

Supervisor Acunto – The purpose of this meeting is to consider Extension #5 to Water District #1 of the Charlton Water District.

The Town Clerk read the legal notice.

Supervisor Acunto – We are calling this an extension but we don’t want to confuse it with an extension that might be new users. These are existing users of the water district, which were given the title of outside users. What this hearing is about is to now name those users as part of Extension #5 which would make them part of the original district as it is known. We aren’t talking about add-ons. They are already receiving water. It is basically a housekeeping kind of operation. At this time I will open the hearing to public input.

Councilman Grattidge – Is there a map available for this?

Councilman Lippiello – There is a map here and Jim Mitchell will bring a corrected map. One of the homes was not included on the public announcement list that was printed in the paper. Therefore, the map is being amended and Jim will bring that this evening. This is basically the map minus the last house that was added to the district down on Old Stage. That is the house that should not be included on the map.

Councilman Grattidge – If anyone wants to look at the map, this is the map up here.

Wes Weaver – Vines Road – The $500.00. What does that mean? Are those the people that are existing now? Are you going to charge them $500.00 a year?

Councilman Grattidge – That is a phrase that I believe is legally put in by the attorneys when they file this with the State. It is not a fee that will be charged now.

Supervisor Acunto – It is not to exceed $500.00. If we exceed that $500.00 per year, we would have to go to the State Comptroller for permission to make it large than $500.00.

Councilman Lippiello – There is not a charge that will exceed $500.00.

Wes Weaver – It is not anticipated. That answers my question.

John Morgan – If someone intends to hook up on the existing line then there will be a charge. It will be a hook up fee.

Wes Weaver – But not a yearly fee.

Supervisor Acunto - Not a yearly fee.

Councilman Verola – And not to people who are already in the district. Right?

John Morgan - Right but the hoop up fee will be put over a four-year period.

Supervisor Acunto – We haven’t gotten to that point yet. That will be a consideration when we work on the Fee Schedule. Again there, we cannot exceed $500.00.

Councilman Grattidge – But these people are also responsible for any debt. They will be treated like everyone else that is in the water district so if there is a debt (interrupted)

John Morgan – There will be no 1 ½ times users anymore. They will pay what everybody else pays that has been in the district for years but they will have a hook up fee.

Councilman Grattidge – Anyone that is in this district that got added up by the Main Street would end up paying their debt that that particular district is paying.

John Morgan –If they have a corporation in the system, at this point, that’s different.

Councilman Grattidge – Because they have already been paying.

Supervisor Acunto – At this point we will adjourn the public hearing to 7:30 P.M. just to make sure that we give anyone who comes in at 7:30 P.M. the opportunity to speak because there was somewhat of a glitch in the resolution as to the public announcement.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:10 P.M.

The Public Hearing reconvened at 7:30 P.M.

Supervisor Acunto – At this time, we will hear anyone who wishes to be heard in regard to Extension #5 of the Water District. Extension #5 is a housekeeping matter. We presently have 31 users who are presently given the title of outside users. We have been advised by council that this is no longer legal or proper and we have to bring these people into the water district. We are not creating a new water district, we are just incorporating those who are presently using the system and they will come in as members of the water district. We have the correct map.

After everyone had the opportunity to speak who wished, the hearing was called to a close by Supervisor Acunto, seconded by Councilman Lippiello.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Hanchar
Town Clerk