For the first time since the nominating conventions in late July, First Selectman candidate Martha Jankovic-Mark and First Selectman Tim Herbst have engaged in debate, stemming from an increase in sewer use fees.
Mark called on Herbst to explain the 34 percent increase.
"The rates increased to $5.95 per 100 cubic feet, and now are based on all water usage, not just water that actually goes into the sanitary sewers. So water used for lawns, which drains naturally into the ground, and for swimming pools, now is included in water-use calculations charged to sewer users," Mark said.
“It’s going to dramatically increase the out-of-pocket costs of almost all Trumbull residents, and it comes on top of an aggressive record of increasing taxes and spending under the regime of Tim Herbst. It has to stop,” she said.
Herbst Defends
"It’s unfortunate that Ms. Mark does not understand how town government operates. The rate increase that Mrs. Mark is referring to was negotiated 20 years ago under the administration of Democratic First Selectman David Wilson. A decision was made a long time ago to enter into a 20-year contract with Bridgeport. Trumbull taxpayers are now the victims of this poor decision making," Herbst said.
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He said his administration has filed two lawsuits to prevent "further outrageous increases from Bridgeport," which processes Trumbull's sewage. He added that alternatives to using Bridgeport's facility are being explored.
"Every day when we pick up the newspaper, we see how poorly the City of Bridgeport is being managed, including the operations of their WPCA. The same political operatives that now run Bridgeport used to have their claws in Trumbull. Make no mistake about it, under a Mark administration, I can guarantee you that those same special interests will be back in Trumbull calling the shots and there will be a regional sewer authority with Bridgeport where Mrs. Mark will give away the store. This will not happen on my watch," according to Herbst.
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He accused Mark of failing to WPCA meetings where those issues were discussed.
Finally, he called on Mark to outline "what she plans to do and how she plans to pay for it."
More articles will follow.
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