Blog Sept. 22
Monday, Sept. 22 - Yesterday I was out in Prospect Terrace, Town of Dickinson,
the issue on people's minds was their recently arrived increased water bill. One
senior woman on a fixed income was wondering how she would pay the bill and
what could be done about them. I suggested speaking out to all her elected
officials and the news media with the hope of delaying the increase to $2.99/100
cu.ft. units in Aug. '09
Today I attended the presentation of the 2009 budget for the Joint Sewage
Treatment Plant (11 user municipalities, see below)
Things will get worse, much worse.
I wrote my concerns to John Hill of The Press & Sun-Bulletin and other new media
outlets in attendance. Incredibly, I was alone there apart from them.
From: Ed Arzouian [mailto:ed@arzouian.com]
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 8:44 PM
To: 'jhill@pressconnects.com'
Cc: 'jwright@presconnects.com'; 'froessne@binghamt.gannett.com';
'jimehmke@nc34.com'; 'newstips@news10now.com'; 'newsdirector@wicz.com';
'Jessica Light'; 'actionnews@wbngtv.com'
Subject: meeting this evening
John,
Did you share my disbelief and concern with the meeting in Binghamton City
Chambers this evening?
Here we are, facing a 60% increase in the sewage fees to top an 81% increase in
water rates, and I’m the only person from all of Broome County in the audience (I
think two people showed up while I was leaving at 6:25pm)!
Did you see what I saw?
There were 12 people (6 Council members, the City Comptroller, the Corporate
Council, the City Clerk, two people from the Joint Sewage Treatment Plant, later
joined by a third and a secretary) all scratching their heads unsure what they can
and cannot affect in this process. Then we hear the Sewage Board is suing the
City of Binghamton and its Comptroller Mr. Cox. Binghamton City Council was
asking Corporate Council Frank, “Do we do this or does Johnson City”, they had
no clue!
Turns out the Intermunicipal agreement dates back to 1965 and nobody seems
clear about it.
Can you believe this plant is the last line of defense in all of New York State for
sewage flowing towards the Chesapeake Bay watershed? It sounds like nothing
has been done since the flood of 2006. Bids just went out a couple weeks ago
and Councilwoman Rennia asks, “Didn’t we look at this in January?”. Sewage
Board lawyer Ed Crumb says, “Yes”. Nine months to get the contracts out
All of Broome County should be writing Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, NY
Senator Libous, Senators Clinton and Schumer and Congressman Hinchey to
demand some compensation for being this last outpost and cleaning up
everybody else’s mess again.
Where were the representatives of Johnson City and the towns of Binghamton,
Conklin, Dickinson, Fenton, Kirkwood, Port Dickinson, Union, Vestal and
Binghamton University? (the 11 users of the sewage treatment plant)
Yesterday, Sunday, I was speaking with residents in Prospect Terrace in Town of
Dickinson, foremost on their minds was the water rate increase in the bill they
just got. What will they think when they get another 60% increase?
Since I was the one of the only citizens at the meeting I hope you can use my
comments in your story.
Thank you.
Please call me if you need more info.
Sincerely,
Ed Arzouian.
the issue on people's minds was their recently arrived increased water bill. One
senior woman on a fixed income was wondering how she would pay the bill and
what could be done about them. I suggested speaking out to all her elected
officials and the news media with the hope of delaying the increase to $2.99/100
cu.ft. units in Aug. '09
Today I attended the presentation of the 2009 budget for the Joint Sewage
Treatment Plant (11 user municipalities, see below)
Things will get worse, much worse.
I wrote my concerns to John Hill of The Press & Sun-Bulletin and other new media
outlets in attendance. Incredibly, I was alone there apart from them.
From: Ed Arzouian [mailto:ed@arzouian.com]
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 8:44 PM
To: 'jhill@pressconnects.com'
Cc: 'jwright@presconnects.com'; 'froessne@binghamt.gannett.com';
'jimehmke@nc34.com'; 'newstips@news10now.com'; 'newsdirector@wicz.com';
'Jessica Light'; 'actionnews@wbngtv.com'
Subject: meeting this evening
John,
Did you share my disbelief and concern with the meeting in Binghamton City
Chambers this evening?
Here we are, facing a 60% increase in the sewage fees to top an 81% increase in
water rates, and I’m the only person from all of Broome County in the audience (I
think two people showed up while I was leaving at 6:25pm)!
Did you see what I saw?
There were 12 people (6 Council members, the City Comptroller, the Corporate
Council, the City Clerk, two people from the Joint Sewage Treatment Plant, later
joined by a third and a secretary) all scratching their heads unsure what they can
and cannot affect in this process. Then we hear the Sewage Board is suing the
City of Binghamton and its Comptroller Mr. Cox. Binghamton City Council was
asking Corporate Council Frank, “Do we do this or does Johnson City”, they had
no clue!
Turns out the Intermunicipal agreement dates back to 1965 and nobody seems
clear about it.
Can you believe this plant is the last line of defense in all of New York State for
sewage flowing towards the Chesapeake Bay watershed? It sounds like nothing
has been done since the flood of 2006. Bids just went out a couple weeks ago
and Councilwoman Rennia asks, “Didn’t we look at this in January?”. Sewage
Board lawyer Ed Crumb says, “Yes”. Nine months to get the contracts out
All of Broome County should be writing Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, NY
Senator Libous, Senators Clinton and Schumer and Congressman Hinchey to
demand some compensation for being this last outpost and cleaning up
everybody else’s mess again.
Where were the representatives of Johnson City and the towns of Binghamton,
Conklin, Dickinson, Fenton, Kirkwood, Port Dickinson, Union, Vestal and
Binghamton University? (the 11 users of the sewage treatment plant)
Yesterday, Sunday, I was speaking with residents in Prospect Terrace in Town of
Dickinson, foremost on their minds was the water rate increase in the bill they
just got. What will they think when they get another 60% increase?
Since I was the one of the only citizens at the meeting I hope you can use my
comments in your story.
Thank you.
Please call me if you need more info.
Sincerely,
Ed Arzouian.
Area serviced by the Binghamton-Johnson City Joint
Sewage Treatment Plant
Sewage Treatment Plant
Binghamton-Johnson City Joint Sewage
Treatment Plant (BJCJSTP) from across
the Susquehanna River.
Treatment Plant (BJCJSTP) from across
the Susquehanna River.