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Home
MDC PUBLIC HEARING

 

 

November 24, 2013 

 

 

From:  The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations
Contact:  Susan Kniep, President
Website:
http://ctact.org/
Email:
fctopresident@aol.com
Telephone: 860-841-8032

 

 

Following the Public Hearing of the MDC Commission of November 13, 2013, as we note below, the Federation suggests

 

 

It’s Time to Audit and Regulate the MDC

 

 

Last week’s meeting of the Metropolitan District Commission drew an angry crowd of ratepayers from member and nonmember towns who echoed a resounding “NO!!!!” to the proposed rate hikes which in some cases exceed a 700% increase. 

 

The proposed rate increases are highlighted below and impact residents, businesses, and public agencies to include municipalities and the State.

 

With State Legislators in the audience, several speakers emphasized that this unregulated Public Utility needed to be put under the microscope by the State Legislature as ratepayers would no longer tolerate funneling their money into a black hole for which there is no accountability.

 

My comments at the MDC Meeting included the following:  

 

First, the MDC must cease the practice of Taxation without Representation by denying nonmember towns a seat at the MDC table.    Each nonmember town which includes Glastonbury, South Windsor, Farmington and East Granby should have an MDC Commissioner participating in decision making which impact the property owners and ratepayers in those towns.  Member Towns include Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor.

 

Second, MDC Commissioners must be held accountable to the community they represent or they should be removed.  This should include being responsive to ratepayer and taxpayer inquiries by adding their email addresses to the MDC Website.

 

Third, the MDC must provide Transparency through their website to include the wages, benefits and pensions paid to MDC employees, as well as payments made to their attorneys, contractors and vendors.   The Minutes of their Meetings, their annual budgets and audits, and union contracts should also be visible on the MDC website.  

 

The State Legislature should immediately call for continued audits of the millions of dollars ratepayers and taxpayers have paid to the MDC.  This should include continued forensic audits of the $2 Billion Clean Water Project to be assured contracts have been properly bid and facilitated.

 

And most importantly, a process should be established to assure the public that this high-priced public utility is properly regulated by an independent, conflict free agency of the State. 

 

The MDC has functioned far too long under a cloak of secrecy with little to no accountability to the public! 

 

 

 

**********************************

 

 

November 13, 2013 

 

 

From:  The Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations
Contact:  Susan Kniep, President
Website:
http://ctact.org/
Email:
fctopresident@aol.com
Telephone: 860-841-8032

 

 

 

 

BREAKING: 

 

TODAY, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013, 5:00 PM

 

A PUBLIC HEARING ON

 

MDC DRAMATIC RATE INCREASES

Impacting Member and NonMember Towns

 

TIME:  5:00 PM, WHERE:  The Metropolitan Training District Training Center

125 Maxim Road, Hartford, CT

 

 

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MDC COMMISSIONERS

http://themdc.com/board_members.shtml.

 

 

Did Your Commissioner Notify Your Community of this Public Hearing or Proposed Rate Increases?   Write to fctopresident@aol.com

 

Example of Rate Increase:  Sec W1b Customer Service Charge

Size of Meter: 6”, Quarterly Billing: From $550.56 To $1,789.32

 

 

******Refer to Proposed Rate Increases Below*****

 

 

*******************

 

NonMember Towns:  Glastonbury, South Windsor, Farmington and East Granby

Member Towns:  Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor

As noted within the article Glastonbury Council Opposes Water Rate Increases By MDC

 

 

 

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From the Federation:

 

The MDC functions in a vacuum as illustrated by their failure to provide adequate and timely notice to ratepayers regarding their November 13, 2013  public hearing on proposed rate increases which will ultimately have a financial impact on homeowners, businesses, municipal budgets and other public sector budgets within MDC Member and NonMember Towns .

 

Yesterday, the Federation became aware of the Public Hearing scheduled for today and although we attempted to receive information from the MDC none was forthcoming until today.  As such, yesterday, we visited the office of the Town Clerk of East Hartford and obtained the notice of the public hearing which although dated November 1, 2013 was not received in by the Town Clerk until Friday, November 8, 2013.  This was one day before the long weekend was to begin wherein Town Halls across the State would be closed on Monday, November 11.   With nothing forthcoming from the MDC, we typed this document which illustrates the dramatic rate increases they have proposed and we have provided the information below for your review.  Today, we received from MDC Attorney Stone the attached document from which we typed the information   It appears this information is not on the MDC’s website. 

 

Further, Susan Kniep, FCTO President and former Mayor of East Hartford, has repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempted to obtain through the East Hartford Town Council and more specifically through the East Hartford MDC Representative and Councilor William Horan, how the cost of the MDC Ordered To Pay $2.9 Million To Injured Bicyclist - Hartford ... is to be paid.  Mr. Horan has remained silent on the issue. 

 

In the name of Transparency, we have also been unsuccessful in having the salaries and benefits of MDC personnel and contractors posted to the MDC Website. 

 

As the MDC Eyes City-Owned Building For Expansion - Hartford Courant ratepayers have no idea as to how this latest cost driver is to be financed at $2.1 million.

 

MDC Ratepayers deserve Transparency and the MDC should provide that transparency similar to the State of Connecticut Transparency Website where not only personnel salaries, benefits and pensions are provided but vendor payments as well.

 

 

 

The following was typed from the document obtained by the Federation yesterday.  Please Note that the

 

MDC Public Hearing is at 5:00 PM Today at

The Metropolitan Training District Training Center,

125 Maxim Road, Hartford, CT

 

 

 

MDC PUBLIC HEARING

 

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

ON PROPOSED REVISIONS TO

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT WATER SUPPLY ORDINANCES

 

 

 

Pursuant to Special Act 01-3, as adopted by the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, and Section 2-14 of the Charter of The Metropolitan District, the Water Bureau of The Metropolitan District will hold a public hearing on proposed revisions to The District’s Water Supply Ordinances as they apply to the water rates for the fiscal year 2014.  The hearing will be held The Metropolitan District Training Center, 125 Maxim Road, Hartford, Connecticut, on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013 at 5:00 PM. Proposed changes to the rates stipulated under the following sections of the Water Supply Ordinances will be considered:

 

Additions and/or changes are indicated by underscoring and deletions are crossed out.

 

SEC. W1a  WATER USED CHARGE (TREATED WATER)

 

The WATER USED CHARGE is the quantity of water used as read at the meter, as follows:

 

 

 

The Following is Crossed Out by the MDC

Bills Rendered

Rate

Monthly and Quarterly

$2.50 Per 100 Cubic Feet

 

 

 

 

The Following is Replaced by the MDC

Bills Rendered

Rate

Monthly and Quarterly

$2.53 Per 100 Cubic Feet

 

 

*************************

 

SEC.  W1b CUSTOMER SERVICE CHARGE

 

The CUSTOMER SERVICE CHARGE is a service charge applicable to all metered services and services to be metered.  The charge shall be determined from the size of each meter installed or to be installed on the premises, as follows:

 

 

The Following is Crossed Out by the MDC

Size of Meter

Monthly Billing

Quarterly Billing

5/8"

13.48

40.44

3/4"

13.48

40.44

1"

13.48

40.44

1 1/2"

28.29

84.87

2"

28.29

84.87

3"

183.52

550.56

4"

183.52

550.56

6"

183.52

550.56

8"

183.52

550.56

12"

183.52

550.56

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Following is Replaced by the MDC

Size of Meter

Monthly Billing

Quarterly Billing

5/8"

13.48

40.44

3/4"

13.48

40.44

1"

13.48

40.44

1 1/2"

28.29

84.87

2"

28.29

84.87

3"

183.52

550.56

4"

183.52

550.56

6"

596.44

1,789.32

8"

734.08

2,202.24

12"

1,284.64

3,853.92

 

                       

*************************

 

 

SEC.  W1c    SURCHARGE OUTSIDE THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

 

In towns outside the limits of the THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, in addition to charges under SEC. W1a and W1b, there shall be a surcharge determined from the size of the meter installed on the premises, as follows: 

 

 

The Following is Crossed Out by the MDC

Size of Meter

Monthly Billing

Quarterly Billing

5/8"

35.25

105.75

3/4"

38.30

114.90

1"

49.30

147.90

1 1/2"

63.46

190.38

2"

101.87

305.61

3"

386.04

1,158.12

4"

482.55

1,447.65

6"

750.63

2,251.89

8"

1,018.72

3,056.16

12"

1,581.69

4,745.07

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Following is Replaced by the MDC

Size of Meter

Monthly Billing

Quarterly Billing

5/8"

35.25

105.75

3/4"

38.30

114.90

1"

49.30

147.90

1 1/2"

63.46

190.38

2"

101.87

305.61

3"

386.04

1,158.12

4"

482.55

1,447.65

6"

750.63

2,251.89

8"

1,018.72

3,056.16

12"

1,581.69

4,745.07

 

 

 

*************************

 

 

SEC.  W1d    CHARGES FOR UNTREATED WATER 

 

Charges for untreated water sold to water companies and agencies under agreement between The Metropolitan District and such companies or agencies, or by other arrangements, will increase to the rate of $1.00 per hundred cubic feet.

 

 

 

*************************

 

 

SEC.  W6f    CHARGES FOR PRIVATE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE 

 

Charges for connections to water mains supplying water for fire protection, metered, or unmetered, shall be in accord with the following table:

 

 

 

 

The Following is Crossed Out by the MDC

Size of Connection

Monthly Charge

2"

14.21

3"

18.50

4"

27.77

6"

46.56

8"

70.01

10"

117.24

12"

164.89

 

 

 

The Following is Replaced by the MDC

Size of Meter

Monthly Billing

2"

14.38

3"

18.72

4"

28.10

6"

47.12

8"

70.85

10"

118.65

12"

166.87

 

 

************************

 

 

As Posted by the MDC on 11/12/13
MDC COMMISSIONER AND CITIZEN MEMBER LIST - 11/12/13

 

 

 

*******************

 

Check the following web link for Future MDC Meetings

 

http://www.themdc.com/index.shtml

 

 

 

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Metropolitan District Commission (The MDC )

Votes to Put $800 Million Dollar Bond Referendum on November, 2012 Ballot

http://cmgr.themdc.com//ucmprd/groups/public/documents/public/mdc_437793.pdf


 

Members Towns Include

Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor

 

FAQs | The Clean Water Project

 

 

 

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Step Down, Mr. Dibella - Hartford Courant

 

May 22, 2007  Hartford Courant

 

William A. DiBella ought to do the most graceful thing, under the circumstances, and resign now as chairman of the Metropolitan District Commission.

 

On Friday, Mr. DiBella was found liable on all counts in a federal civil action tied to one of the biggest political corruption scandals in state history. Continue reading at …… http://articles.courant.com/2007-05-22/news/0705220253_1_pension-funds-mdc-mr-dibella

 

 

 

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