Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 17, 2019 Saugus Garden Club hosts annual Open Meeting and Fundraiser Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 www.eight10barandgrille.com Kitchen Hours: Mon-Thurs: 12-10pm Fri-Sat: 12-11pm Sunday: 1pm-10pm Lunch Menu! Enjoy our Famous $10 Served Mon. thru Fri. ‘til 3:30 PM Choose from 16 Items! Grilled Rib Eye Steak! Only $22.00 includes Two Sides Every Friday FRESH HADDOCK DINNER Prepared Your Way! Includes two sides Facebook.com/ advocate.news.ma Now Featuring our BREAKFAST PIZZA & OMELET MENU Saturday & Sunday Only Served until 3:30 PM Finance Committee recommends a 1.5 percent increase in water rates for FY 2020 By Mark E. Vogler T he average residential user will see a $464 water bill – an increase of $6 or 1.5 percent for the 2020 Fiscal Year (FY) that begins July 1, according to the water rates recommended by the Finance Committee. “I want the minimum rate possible,” said Finance Committee Member Steven C. DiVirgilio of the motion he made at Wednesday night’s meeting. “The water fund holds its own,” he said. The average commercial user’s water bill would be $4,118, an increase of $60, under the option recommended by the Finance Committee. The panel made recommendations on several articles expected to be considered when the Annual Town Meeting reconvenes for its second session on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor auditorium. Consultant Matt Abrahams of the Abrahams Group briefed the Finance Committee on a report about the FY 2020 Water Rates Update. There are 9,400 water connections in town. Town Meeting has voted to increase the water rates over the past three years: 9.5 percent in FY 2017, 2.5 percent in FY 2018 and 3 percent in FY 2019. Under the option for a 3 percent increase – the biggest increase considered – the average residential user would be paying $472, an increase of $14 for the year. The bill for the average commercial user would be $4,180, an EDIBLE CENTERPIECES: On Wednesday night, Lou Greenstein – TV Chef, Author, Columnist, National Lecturer and Culinary Historian – entertained and educated the crowd attending the Saugus Garden Club’s annual Open Meeting and Fundraiser at Town Hall. He gave some pointers on how to design and create edible centerpieces using carved vegetables and fruit. For instance; he created a partridge out of a pear. (Saugus Advocate Photos by Mark E. Vogler). Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta and her daughter Sabrina check out the tables of flowers and food on Wednesday night during the Saugus Garden Club’s annual Open Meeting and Fundraiser. increase of $122 for the year. The town plans to borrow $3.2 million for Water Main replacements in the new fiscal year – $1.5 million of that amount through a 0 percent interest MWRA loan. The town’s water capital plan also includes $2 million for water meter replacement program and meter-reading vehicle in FY 2022. “The use of retained earnings has mitigated large rate increases over past several years and may continue to do so in the near future,” the Abrahams Group noted in its report. “The Town has begun addressing additional capital infrastructure or equipment, but more needs will be addressed in the near future,” it concluded.
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