The Southwick Select Board meets via Zoom Nov. 30, 2020. (SCREENSHOT)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Select Board Nov. 30 denied three requests for sewer abatements by a vote of 2-1.
Selectman Joseph Deedy was in favor of the abatements after speaking with the applicants. Two residents requested abatements because some of their water use was for filling pools — one at 32,000 gallons and another at 26,000 gallons. A third abatement was requested for 5,700 gallons of water.
Selectman Russell Fox made the motion to deny the requests, calling it a “slippery slope.”
“Are we just going to take people at their word? Will someone be checking pools and how many gallons?” said Fox. “I think this is going to turn into a nightmare.”
Select Board Chair Douglas Moglin agreed.
“I concur,” he said, noting that “the meters are not at every tap” and there was no way to monitor what water goes back into the sewe.
When making the motion to deny all requests, Fox said he hoped the residnets would understand.
Moglin said “there are other ways to mitigate the cost” and approving abatement request would set a precedent.
“I think it opens up Pandora’s Box,” Moglin said. “It would create w problem for the water department.”
