General

SHOULD HOLYOKE PRIVATIZE ITS WATER SEWAGE TREATMENT?

Monday, 15 November 2004
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

WHO PROFITS? WHO LOSES? SHOULD HOLYOKE PRIVATIZE ITS WATER SEWAGE
TREATMENT?
Water sewage treatment is not a glamorous topic. But it affects all of us as residents
and taxpayers. Holyoke is under EPA pressure to upgrade its sewage treatment
facilities so that during heavy rains sewage does not overflow into the
Connecticut River. Everyone agrees that this is a major problem that needs
to be solved, but there is no agreement on the best solution. Nor has the
public been fully informed. The mayor is proposing to privatize sewage
treatment. However, neither the public nor City Councilors have been allowed
to see the actual contract. Aquarian, the only company that offered a bid
for the multi-million dollar project, has little experience with waste water
treatment and has a poor track record elsewhere. Many city councilors have
repeatedly questioned the company’s rosy projections and its expertise. We
demand more information and public disclosure before the city signs a
20-year, $100 million contract. This public forum offers an opportunity to
hear all sides of the issue so that citizens’ voices can truly be heard.
Lee Town representative Dierdre Consolati will be the featured
speaker. Her Concerned Citizens of Lee group recently defeated their town’s
proposed private contract for water and sewer after discovering many
hitherto-undisclosed problems with the private corporation. Five City
Councilors (including Kevin Jourdain, Helen Norris, Lilian Santiago. Mark A.
Lubold, and Elaine Pluta) and a group of citizens (Holyoke Citizens for Open
Government) are seeking to spark a genuine public debate on the issue.

Location:
Joseph Metcalf Preschool, 2019 Northampton St