Wagner delays home rule petition on Water Department

Date: 4/5/2011

April 6, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE — State Rep. Joseph Wagner's decision to delay the filing of a home rule petition that is part of Mayor Michael Bissonnette's ongoing efforts to consolidate city government came as a surprise to Bissonnette.

Wagner released a statement to the press on March 31 that he would delay the filing of the legislation that would allow voters to decide to fold the Water Department into the Department of Public Works.

Wagner has requested a meeting with Bissonnette and the City Council to discuss the petition.

"As proposed by Mayor Bissonnette, the home rule legislation forwarded to me could serve to eliminate protections for water ratepayers in Chicopee," Wagner said in the statement. "There are serious questions regarding rate setting, abatements, and other issues relating to ratepayer funds that must be answered before this legislation will advance."

Bissonnette noted that the Water Commission has met and approved the action. The City Council approved the legislation by a vote of 12 to one, he added.

Bissonnette charged the only reason Wagner would step in now to question the petition is political.

"I've come to expect nothing less than a lack of cooperation from Mr. Wagner," Bissonnette told Reminder Publications.

He added that Wagner had been invited to join city officials when the legislation was being drafted to offer his opinion, but Wagner did not participate.

The mayor said that under the proposed legislation no other city agency could use Water Department funds for any other purpose than maintaining the city's water supply.

Wagner asserted in his release that "that portions of the state law governing the operation of the Water Department have not been adhered to since March of 2010" and that "the process of water abatements, which had always been part of a public process, were hidden from the public's view."

Bissonnette said this is the second time Wagner has delayed the filing of a home rule petition and added by doing so Wagner was violating the state's constitution.

"The ultimate authority are the Chicopee voters," he said.

He said Wagner's actions would not stall his efforts to consolidate city government to make it more responsive and efficient to residents.