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COB/Stonehill Reach New Water Deal
The new waste water deal, which would have to be approved by the City Council, guarantees $1 million more in payments to the city over the course of the 20-year contract, and creates a scholarship for Brockton students attending Stonehill, the college announced on Wednesday.
m.enterprisenews.com/article/20151118/NEWS/151115867/13406/NEWS
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- boxerfamily
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As for the scholarship, the way I read the contract the scholarship(s) are referred to as "consideration" for the sewer service. A lawyer could have a field day making the argument that that is trading services in lieu of cash. Could a gas station trade fuel for sewer/water or other city tax? Could W.B. Mason use furniture to pay city bills?
And, it is possible that no student applies for or is qualified to attend the school. There is no requirement that a scholarship will be granted every year.
This is a better deal than the current contract but a far cry from fair for the city.
Stonehill could step forward and hand over an annual check for payment in lieu of taxes to make the deal easier to swallow.
Charlie Logan
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- BrocktonDave
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Give them the new terms and if they decline, shut them off.
I guess when you're campaign manager is also affiliated with Stonehill you have to deal...
David R. Heidke
Steward of InBrockton.com
"A mile of road will take you a mile, but a mile of runway will take you anywhere..."
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The new terms should have been mailed via certified mail, the renewal terms would have the disconnect date.
Stonehill has received favored nation status for decades. I think it is a "Catholic thing."
Charlie Logan
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Stonehill Sewer Deal on Agenda, where I'm sure it will be vetted and all the questions will be answered. That's assuming the puffed up chests of the Councilors don't get in the way.
Though in reality, I assume will be sent to Finance.
City Council Agenda;
"From the Mayor requesting council approval to execute the proposed 20 year agreement between the City and Stonehill College. This agreement provides the term and conditions under which the city would provide sewer services to the college. It provides for an increase in sewer revenues to the city at more than 20 percent, compared to the present contract. It also provides for $150 thousand dollars in new annual tuition assistance to Stonehill College for qualified graduates of the City of Brockton’s public schools."
Not to look a "gift horse" in the mouth, but the $1,000,000 over 20 years equals out to $50,000 per year. And I reiterate no current elected City Official should be able to have scholarship monies be awarded to themselves or a relative to them while this contract is in place.
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- BrocktonDave
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How much less are they paying per year than they would if they paid the regular block rate?
I would guess the $50,000 in tuition assistance is a bargain compared to it.
shut them off...
David R. Heidke
Steward of InBrockton.com
"A mile of road will take you a mile, but a mile of runway will take you anywhere..."
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Not a very good start.
Not to worry....people are moving out fast so there won't be that many people using water.
If we all sang the same note in the choir, We'd never have harmony
2/1/1938-5/4/2019
Rest in peace
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Numbers are from the city website
Stonehill has 61 separate sewer accounts
The quarterly total billing of the 61 accounts for the period ending November 2015 equaled $65,078.66
The total sewer discharge equaled 799,600 cubic feet
Based on the current applicable sewer block rate of $12.23/100 cf a single account invoice would equal $97,791.05
Stonehill saves $32,712.39 this quarter and the city has the expense of keeping the books and processing the invoices for 61 separate accounts.
I think, the new deal would add a 7.5% "surcharge" and the scholarship B.S..
In round numbers the current deal situation represents a 33% under billing.
Invoice the school for its total use of the city sewer system at the established block rates or disconnect them!!
Charlie Logan
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We're picking up the tab for their freebies!
If we all sang the same note in the choir, We'd never have harmony
2/1/1938-5/4/2019
Rest in peace
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- SeamusMcFly
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If they're paying $65k per quarter, it sounds like they are paying for a service.
Shut them off? Sure, then get zero monies. Good economic thinking.
Whether you agree with it or not, they are paying the appropriate block rate based on separate meters. They are not paying less than you.
Does the college need the break? No. Should they be paying based on total usage? I think so. Are they getting anything for free? No. Would we somehow be better not getting a quarter million bucks a year from them? Absolutely not.
Why is our first recourse to always cut our own noses off?
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- BrocktonDave
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If we were to shut them off, our variable costs of processing the sewage would drop, so the idea that we would get "no" money, is not correct.
They are not paying the correct rate, separate meters was to circumvent the commercial rate.
What does Massasoit do? Do they have separate meters? Do they pay the residential rate?
David R. Heidke
Steward of InBrockton.com
"A mile of road will take you a mile, but a mile of runway will take you anywhere..."
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The dorm rooms rent out by the semester - kinda like a hotel room - kinda commercial to me.
Why don't they buy water from the city? Now that the desal thing is in place, the water is available and the college use would smooth desal minimum annual charge the city.
The college should simply follow all the terms and rules by which all of the customers of the sewer/water system must comply!!
Charlie Logan
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If we all sang the same note in the choir, We'd never have harmony
2/1/1938-5/4/2019
Rest in peace
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- SeamusMcFly
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Separate meters are also probably for internal college book keeping, as every school, department, college, etc. within the college has its own budget. Not, just a stonehill budget. This is not however, always the case with municipal hookups.
I agree that they should be paying based on a lump sum, and let them break it down internally. A contracted service like this is not uncommon with colleges and universities, and is typically driven by the municipal service and not the school. If you want a good fee, you lock in for a set period of time. Guaranteed revenue.
I would think Brockton would have the upper hand in hashing out contracts. Yearly or quarterly municipal bills are easy for colleges, getting funds and approvals for the massive costs of redoing the site utilities to connect back to Easton might be prohibitive based on up front costs.
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Anything short of charging a full commercial rate is pandering to a customer. If i were Churchill Linen, Concord Foods, or other large quantity user I would be watching this issue with my corporate lawyer.
The use is certainly not residential and any argument to the contrary is absurd.
Charlie Logan
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If we all sang the same note in the choir, We'd never have harmony
2/1/1938-5/4/2019
Rest in peace
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