Westport Select Board Addresses Water Line Billing Dispute and New Appointments
- Meeting Overview:
The Westport Select Board meeting on November 4 focused on a water line billing dispute with Fall River, various committee appointments, and preparations for upcoming community events. The board resolved key administrative matters and encouraged voter participation in the November 5 election.
The most discussion centered around the ongoing billing dispute with the city of Fall River concerning prior water usage charges from 2016 to 2021. The board is negotiating an agreement that was initially approved by the Watuppa Water Board but subsequently requested for reconsideration by the Fall River City Council. The town has maintained that it has settled charges for water used by residents, but disputes additional billed amounts. A letter is being prepared to communicate Westport’s willingness to work collaboratively towards a resolution, potentially involving mediation if necessary.
In terms of appointments, several community members were appointed to various committees. Ryan Williams was reappointed as a full-time police officer, while Bill Sheen was appointed to the offshore wind advisory committee. Additionally, Edward Han joined the bike walking path committee, and a list of election workers was confirmed. These appointments aim to fill necessary roles and enhance community engagement in local governance.
The board approved a standard employment agreement with the town accountant, Nicole Peol, including a 3% salary increase, in recognition of her contributions to improving the town’s financial reporting and management. The board expressed satisfaction with her efforts in achieving early certification of free cash and successful audit results.
The Town Administrator provided updates on ongoing projects, including title searches for deed transfers and preparations for school display cases. Discussions also touched on regulatory challenges related to the Route 6 water line project, particularly concerning design specifications required by MassDOT.
Jim Hartnett
City Council Officials:
Richard Brewer, Steve Ouellette, Manuel Soares, Ann Boxler, Shana Shufelt, Denise Bouchard (Secretary), Jim Hartnett (Town Administrator), Paula Brown (Administrative Assistant/Confidential Clerk)
-
Meeting Type:
City Council
-
Committee:
-
Meeting Date:
11/04/2024
-
Recording Published:
-
Duration:
15 Minutes
-
Notability Score:
Routine
Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:
-
State:
Massachusetts
-
County:
Bristol County
-
Towns:
Westport
Recent Meetings Nearby:
- 01/28/2026
- 01/28/2026
- 17 Minutes
- 01/28/2026
- 01/28/2026
- 74 Minutes
- 01/28/2026
- 01/28/2026
- 97 Minutes