Hanover Debates Water Rate Hikes, Approves Ambulance Fee Increase
Select Board seeks 'split the difference' scenario between residential and business users
HANOVER, MA - June 17 - Hanover officials discussed proposed water rate increases during their June 17 Select Board meeting, with members divided on the best approach to balance revenue needs with affordability concerns.
Board member Greg Satterwhite proposed a scenario that would shift more of the burden to lower-tier residential users while providing some relief to higher-volume business customers.
"I think a more conservative approach to sustaining that water budget is to give a very modest increase to our most dependable users and mitigate a little bit more our high volume users in the business community," Satterwhite said.
Board member Steve Louko expressed reservations about raising rates for average households, stating, "I don't feel comfortable increasing residents' water rates significantly at all. Water is a need. It's a basic necessity."
The board requested additional scenarios be developed before their next meeting on June 24, when they plan to make a final decision on new water rates.
The Select Board unanimously approved increases to ambulance rates, aligning them with regional averages. The new rates, effective July 1, 2024, are expected to generate an additional $41,000 in revenue.
The board also adopted goals for 2024-2025, focusing on addressing the town's financial challenges and the potential need for an override vote.
Board Chair Vanessa O'Connor said, "I wanted to try and keep these lean this year because I do think that it's a potential another looming override vote is really going to be the priority this year."
Other goals include continuing work on PFAS mitigation in drinking water, pursuing solar energy projects, and collaborating on plans for Hanover's 300th anniversary celebration.
The Select Board will reconvene on June 24 to interview candidates for a vacant school committee seat, with a vote to appoint a new member scheduled for June 26.
*Editor’s note: the June 24th and June 26th meetings have already occurred and been posted. Our reporting comes from local cable access feeds, and this June 17th meeting was posted the week of July 8.