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Date: 10/20/2021
SPRINGFIELD – Overdue payments from Eversource Energy were analyzed during the Springfield City Council meeting on Oct. 7.
Ward 7 Councilor Timothy Allen shared that he and Ward 2 Councilor Michael Fenton discovered that Eversource has fallen behind on payments totaling $44 million, owing money that dates back to 2013. “They make partial payments, but they still owe money for 2013 and every year since,” said Allen.
Allen presented a resolution advocating for Eversource Energy to change their payment strategy. “Whereas Eversource continues to string along Springfield and other communities by not paying their bills and appealing charges despite losing all legal cases regarding this issue,” said Allen in reference to Eversource’s legal challenging of bills to delay direct payments. Fenton further detailed the company’s “irresponsible” practices, calling to action a need to challenge Eversource’s ongoing delays.
City Solicitor Edward Pikula discussed the history of Eversource’s late payment practices. He explained the company discovered a loophole back in 2012 and has been exploiting it on a yearly basis since. “They figured out this loophole that says ‘hey, we don’t have to pay the full amount of our tax…I think the court is really losing their patience with Eversource,” said Pikula. The solicitor also shared that Eversource is approaching settlements with local communities, stating that the city has not settled due to differences in monetary compensation. After discussion, the council approved Allen’s resolution.
The City Council also gathered to complete incomplete items from the Oct. 4 meeting. Chief Administrative Financial Officer TJ Plante introduced a supplemental budget increase of $3,860,083 for the Springfield School District. He explained that the increase is being made as a correction to the School Committee’s original budget figure from May, which was made before the state finalized their fiscal year 2022 budget in June. The item was ultimately voted to be continued, with Plante stating he would gather more information about the city’s views on the budget change.
A series of Bond Authorizations became a central point of conversation, including a $3.1 million for roads and sidewalks, $1.1 million for Forestry Operations Center, $1 million for Watershops Pond Dam and $1,000 toward police vehicles. Springfield Department of Public Works Director Christopher Cignoli spoke about the bonds, explaining that the roads and sidewalks bond is divided up toward pedestrian crossing upgrades on Wilbraham Road near American International College, repairs to a drainage system located on Laurel Street, replacement of a storm drainage system on St Lawrence Avenue and a roadway sidewalk bond divided toward private and public way paving.
Ward 8 Councilor Orlando Ramos expressed his appreciation for private ways being included in the paving improvements but inquired about which areas would be repaired with the designated sum of $750,000. Cignoli explained that there is currently a long list of potential locations that could receive improvement. Ward 4 Councilor Malo Brown also stressed the importance of supporting overlooked areas, including a popular restaurant in his district that is near a puddle of swamp land. “People go to the restaurant and all they smell is watery trash,” said Brown. The sidewalk bond was unanimously approved by the council.
Regarding the Watershops Pond Dam, Councilor Jesse Lederman addressed the proposal’s alteration from hydro power to solar power. Plante explained that the change was made after learning about hydro power’s limitations. “It was accepted thinking it would be a neat little project, but the return on investment to generate any power from the hydro power was about 42 to 45 years. It just didn’t make financial sense to invest,” said Plante. The council ultimately approved the item along with the Forestry Operations and police vehicle bonds.