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State Rep candidate in Connecticut's 151st district, Tod Laudonia, offered testimony to the South Regional Water District Representative Policy Board over the proposed Aquarion sale.
Laudonia, a former CCMC Tax Collector for the Town of Greenwich and past member of the Greenwich
RTM, the town's legislative body, and a concerned senior citizen, started off his comments by pointing out that Aquarion should have held at least one hearing in the affected Aquarion coverage areas to give
ratepayers a better opportunity to air their views, whether they be positive or negative.
"The logic of expanding a governmental agency to encompass another territory eludes me. The name, South Central Regional Water District, appears to define the purpose and mission statement of the
District – to provide the south central area of Connecticut with its water needs and services," Laudonia said.
"This whole plan smacks of redistribution of economic resources for the benefit of one geographic area at the detriment of another. The taxpayers of the Town of Greenwich, along with other surrounding municipalities will see property tax increases to make up for the loss of revenue from a private company paying tax on their property. Your answer to that is 'the PILOT program will alleviate that burden' but I can tell you without hesitation that Payment In Lieu Of Taxes NEVER equates to Payment of Taxes. Follow that with an inevitable rate increase based on the history shown by the South Regional Water District, and you are looking at a scenario of, once more, pickpocketing the wallets of Southwestern Connecticut residents," charged Laudonia.
He concluded his remarks by suggesting that Eversource should sell Aquarion to the highest private market bidder.
"A private company with a profit motive will analyze the scenario much better, provide better customer service and be overseen by PURA which has shown to be a good system so far," concluded Laudonia.
