MDC Resolution Passed
NEWINGTON - Newington became the third Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) town to approve a resolution regarding additional ad valorem sewer charges, joining Wethersfield in opposition.

       The Council-minus Jim Marocchini, who was absent-voted 8-0 at its February 28 meeting to adopt the resolution after Town Attorney Ben Ancona advised that the Commission lacked the legal authority to impose the additional fees for the reserve fund it voted to establish a few months ago.

       Councilor Gail Budrejko raised the issue-brought up at the last meeting-pointing to a resolution passed by West Hartford, which agreed to make the reserve payments on a one-time basis while urging the MDC to establish other remedies for the future. Budrejko and other Councilors expressed a desire to take it a step further by opposing any additional charges completely, but opted first to seek a legal opinion on the MDC’s authority to impose them.

       The MDC opted for the fund in order to protect its bond rating in the event that Hartford-currently facing a $50 million budget deficit-fails to make the final two quarter sewer payments of the 2017 fiscal year.

       â€"They have every right to form a consensus and ask the member towns to chip in some cash-they don’t have the right to force it,” Ancona said during the meeting.

       All of the Councilors expressed sentiments in favor of the resolution, although Maureen Klett expressed a bit of trepidation regarding the MDC’s own take on the legality matter.

       â€"I think the resolution is good, I am concerned though that they have deep pockets,” Klett said. â€"I’m concerned they have the where with all to really drag this out.”

       True, but it’s a risk the Council will have to take to avoid setting a precedent that puts Newington on the hook for extra ad valorem payments through the duration of Hartford’s fiscal crisis, said Councilor Tim Manke.

       â€"I think it’s a concern, but I think you have to somehow draw a line in the sand,” Manke said. â€"If we acquiesce with this, next year-and Hartford’s not going to be in better shape-do they come to us again?”

       Ancona said the resolution combined portions of West Hartford’s-the first town to pass one-and Wethersfield’s document, with some added language of his own.

       Wethersfield’s resolution-first introduced by Republican Councilors Mike Rell, Mike Hurley, Donna Hemmann, and Jodi Latina, before being passed unanimously with amendments-also disputes the legality of funding the MDC reserve with additional revenue from the 7 other Commission towns.

       Ancona said that he left language opposing the allowance of short term borrowing-among several charter revisions being proposed at the state level by the MDC-for fear that it could also create additional costs for towns.

       â€"It’s our taxpayers that are gonna pay it,” he said. â€"Any sort of bad management is just gonna get shifted down to us in a different way.”

       The MDC has said in previous meetings with member towns that they hope to avoid resorting to the reserve fund altogether through legislative remedies that include the ability to impose liens on sewer tax revenue in order to ensure that municipalities do not divert the money to other purposes.

      
STORY BY MARK DIPAOLA   |  Mar 02 2017  |  COMMENTS?