MAYOR RIZZO MEETS WITH STATE DELEGATION TO DISCUSS WATER RATES & CONSENT DECRE
December 10, 2012
Mayor Rizzo visited the State House recently to meet with Speaker Robert DeLeo, Senator Anthony Petruccelli, and Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein to discuss the problems the City of Revere is facing in terms of its deteriorating water, drainage, and sewage infrastructure.
The City of Revere is currently under a Consent Decree handed down by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Revere, as a result of this order, must make significant improvements to its sewer and drainage systems, which continue to show signs of inadequacy. The city must make costly capital improvements, up to $100 Million over the next 10 years in order to meet the regulations from the EPA and the DEP. In order to pay for these improvements, water rates this year have increased 8.06% for residents, up $1.10 from last year. The commercial rate is now up %8.44, which is $1.64 higher than last year.
“I know that during difficult economic times, we are all struggling to pay our bills. I hope that in the future these issues will be alleviated. Right now my administration is looking into new technology to help monitor water usage in order to help residents in controlling their consumption along with helping to find lost expenditures,” commented Mayor Rizzo.
To address these issues, Mayor Rizzo’s administration is educating the public on the requirements of this Consent Decree on ways to reduce water and sewer costs. In addition, the City is in the process of evaluating available technologies that will help businesses and residents monitor and reduce overall water usage.
“Living in Revere, I fully understand the stress that city water and sewer rates have on the hard working families of our community,” Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein said. “These costly capital improvements are mandated by law and we are working together to identify ways to alleviate the cost to our residents. Our delegation will continue to work with Mayor Rizzo to ensure hard earned taxpayer money is invested in the most efficient and responsible manner.”
The State Delegation meeting was a continuation of Mayor Rizzo’s campaign to gain support from state and federal officials. The Mayor is planning to hold a regional meeting with other city and town officials who are being faced with similar problems.
“I commend Mayor Rizzo for his advocacy on this particular issue,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “Even during this economic downturn, we must not let much-needed infrastructure improvement projects fall to the wayside.”
"I applaud Mayor Rizzo for his leadership on this issue affecting the city of Revere and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues to find solutions to some of these challenges,” commented Senator Anthony Petruccelli.