[Update on October 8: A $10,000 payment from HWW/ the Mercers was received by the GBFD on the morning of October 7, per a GBFD commissioner.]
The Great Barrington Fire District will not shut off water to Housatonic Water Works Company tomorrow morning. But if it does not recieve its first $10,000 payment it might shut the water off on November 4.
At a Tuesday afternoon meeting at the Fire District office, commissioners voted unanimously to demand a $10,000 payment from the failing utility by Wednesday, October 7, and to grant a 30 or so-day grace period beyond that. If the money doesn’t arrive, the emergency connection that’s been in place since December to supplement HWW’s water supply will be shut off in early November.
The $10,000 amount had been offered by an emailed letter from HWW co-owner and treasurer James Mercer, who did not attend. Buddy Atwood read the email, sent earlier Tuesday, in which Mercer raised his prior payment offer of $3,000 to $10,000 a month for three months.
Also in attendance were Representative Leigh Davis, Great Barrington Selectboard Chair Steve Bannon and Vice Chair Eric Gabriel and Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove. Bannon read a brief stating asserting that the town “does not support a rate increase” for HWW ratepayers.
Tuesday’s compromise emerged only after a harsher motion failed to carry the room. Commissioner Will Brinker first moved to shut the water off Wednesday, October 7, noting the district has been waiting ten months to be paid, and stressing that it was the District’s “fiduciary duty” to look out for its financial interests at this stage. The replacement motion, demanding $10,000 by Wednesday, with a 30-day grace period, was made after a request from Rep. Davis asking for more time, and promising on behalf of state officials, “We promise that you will be made whole.”
Kristen Elechko, Director of Governor Maura Healey’s Western Massachusetts office, traveled from Northampton for the meeting.
“We’re all trying to be supportive partners,” she said, “understanding this is a long-standing issue.”
The vote follows weeks of escalating pressure. At its September 23 emergency meeting, the district voted to cut off HWW’s water unless the company paid $35,000 by September 25, with two further payments of $35,000 due in November and December. HWW instead offered $3,000, a check never came, and the shutoff threat led Rep Davis to call in the state Attorney General’s Office, MassDEP and DPU, as well as the governor’s office.
Committee member Ken Schumacher asked Davis whether forensic accounting was underway on the company’s finances, and she assured him that it was, though she could not give any timeline on when that or other work on behalf of HWW ratepayers at the state level would be complete. Kate Van Olst of Housatonic wanted to know if measures such as putting liens on company properties had been considered to exert pressure.
“Everything is being looked at,” Davis said, asserting she was confident that if the district gave the state more time, a workable solution could be reached.
Upon the unanimous vote to demand an immediate payment and wait another 30 days before turning off the water Brinker commented, “I appreciate everything everyone’s trying to do but we need to hold a few people’s feet to the fire and look out for GBFD. It’s a lot of money.”
The commissioners’ next scheduled meeting is October 20.
Notice from Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove:
At the Great Barrington Fire District meeting Tuesday evening, Selectboard Chair Steve Bannon outlined the Town’s position regarding the ongoing Housatonic Water Works situation and reaffirmed the Town’s commitment to working alongside the Fire District, residents, and state and federal partners toward both an immediate and long-term solution.
The Town recognizes that the Fire District did not create the circumstances facing Housatonic today. When HWW needed an emergency source of water, the District stepped forward. That action has helped maintain water service for hundreds of residents and businesses while also protecting an important component of public safety.
The Town also recognizes that the Fire District cannot reasonably be expected to carry HWW’s financial obligations indefinitely. HWW reportedly owes the District approximately $110,000 for water provided through the emergency connection.
“The Fire District stepped forward when our neighbors needed help, and the Town is grateful for that,” Bannon said. “They have responsibilities to their own ratepayers, and we respect whatever decision the District ultimately makes. Our message tonight is that they should not have to navigate this alone. The Town intends to be a partner.”
The Town’s Position
The Town does not support another rate increase on Housatonic residents as the answer to HWW’s mismanagement, the proper use of these customer funds is to provide safe water operations and investment in the outdated infrastructure.
Residents have already experienced years of concerns involving water quality, manganese, pressure, reliability, infrastructure and affordability. The Town believes significant questions remain regarding HWW’s financial history, accumulated obligations, infrastructure needs, and the circumstances that led to its present financial condition.
The Town’s efforts to maintain water service should not be interpreted as an endorsement of HWW’s management or the decisions and operating practices that have contributed to the current situation.
“Our responsibility is to the community,” Bannon said. “Keeping the water flowing does not mean accepting the circumstances that brought us here. It means protecting our residents and public safety while we work toward something better.”
Working Toward a Solution
The Town has been working intensively with the Healey-Driscoll Administration, MassDEP, the Attorney General’s Office, Department of Public Utilities, the Town’s legislative delegation, and federal partners to identify immediate assistance and a sustainable path forward.
Those efforts include seeking potential financial assistance related to HWW’s outstanding obligation to the Fire District; reviewing available financial and regulatory options; exploring federal funding and financing for water-system improvements; and continuing to evaluate potential municipal acquisition of HWW.
The Town remains serious about acquisition as a potential long-term solution, but any acquisition must be financially responsible and based on a clear understanding of the system’s value, condition, debt and liabilities, infrastructure needs, and the investment required to provide reliable water service into the future.
The Town will continue working with the Fire District while respecting the District’s independent responsibility to determine its own course of action.
“This problem was not created by the Fire District, and it was not created by the residents of Housatonic,” Bannon said. “Solving it should not fall on either of them alone. The Town is prepared to do its share of the work.”
The Town’s priorities remain clear: protect residents, protect public safety, maintain reliable water service, support the Fire District as a community partner, and work toward a sustainable long-term future for Housatonic’s water system.
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Liz Hartsgrove, Town Manager
Inspired by Community, Guided by Purpose.
Was there any discussion about where HWW customers should send their payments? It does not seem appropriate to send it to the HWW at this time given the circumstances.