By ARCHIE MOUNTAIN
NEWPORT — The response wasn’t exactly unexpected.
While not all 27 Newport citizens attending a public hearing on major increases being proposed for Newport water and sewer users, the expressions on the faces of those users left little doubt whose side they might be on.
It looked like a 27-0 rout at the end of the 75-minute public hearing in a sweltering town office hosted by the Newport Board of Selectmen.
Part 2 of the public hearing doubleheader is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 16 at the same location.
Final action is expected to be taken by the Selectmen following the second hearing.
“We’re trying as best we can to unpack a difficult situation,” said Town Manager Hunter Rieseberg near the end of the hearing. “Newport is not unusual; this is a problem throughout the country and you have to know what the problem really is.”
“Are you going to extend the intake pipe at Gilman Pond?” Bert Spaulding Sr. asked.
“We have to get permission,” Rieseberg responded.
“We have strangled ourselves with all these regulations,” Spaulding quickly responded.
Gilman Pond in Unity, Newport’s main water supply source for decades, was found to have more water than originally believed following the early results of a project being conducted by a group of students from the University of New Hampshire.
Rieseberg said the town is continuing to tap wells in two locations for backup potential to Gilman Pond and the well at Pollard’s Mills. “We will continue to work with UNH to get more water from Gilman Pond,” the town manager stated.
“We’re trying the best we can to unpack a difficult situation.”
Preliminary town plans call for water rates in Newport to increase 20 percent in 2019 and 43 percent in 2020.
There could even a bigger hit with sewer rates, rising 30 percent in 2019, 40 percent in 2020 and 50 percent in 2021.
Newport Finance Director Paul Brown said the town is looking to make the initial change before individual water meters can be read this month to be reflected on the November bills.
Reviewing the problem, Brown said Newport is using much less water than it did a few years ago. The biggest reason is a drop in usage by Sturm, Ruger and Company Inc., which went from 60 million gallons in 2014 to 20 million gallons last year.
When asked, Brown said the gun manufacturer now has a system to recirculate a lot of water.
Several potential problem areas surfaced from members of the public during the meeting.
Leading off the comment period was Frank DeLorier, now 80, who said he has his home up for sale because it is too expensive to live in Newport. “Whatever happened to downsizing a little bit? Newport is not a prosperous town,”
“This board has been working to keep costs under control, said Jeff Kessler, chairman of the Newport Board of Selectmen.
Kessler said Newport water rates were last increased six years ago and with sewer rates it has been eight or nine years.
“We’re in a dying part of the country and not looking to the future,” DeLorier responded.
When reviewing the actual numbers, it was reported Newport’s water usage has dropped to about 100 million gallons a year, well below annual usage at 180 million gallons in 2000.
“Let’s figure out a way to do this,” said Selectman John Hooper II. “Let’s take a soft approach to do what we can afford.”
“John, you’re fighting an uphill battle,” Spaulding said.
“Over the last eight years, if the increase was 24 cents each year we wouldn’t be here tonight,” he emphasized. “There is a limit. Defending the indefendable is too much.”
“These numbers aren’t going to work in this town. You don’t know what is going to happen in six months,” said Reginald Dodge Jr., a Guild resident.
Dodge supported a plan that would involve all Newporters and not just those on the water and sewer systems. “Everybody has to enter into it. Everybody is going to benefit. If you think you can draw from 50 percent of the population it can’t be done.”
Brown said Newport has 1,500 homes on the town water system.
David Kibbey said Newport needs to look at its management system in the water and sewer departments. “You need one person in charge. Get somebody down there to write some rules. I think you have a management issue.”
“The real problem with outside agencies telling us what we are doing and understand what we need for a reserve is a problem, but does it have to be so high?” Spaulding stated. “Water use is going down and you have to work with it. How much money should we have in the bank? This has got to be looked at significantly.
“I prefer a gentle approach. Pay by the year,” said Ray Kibbey.
“What do we tell our tenants?” asked Kristy Kibbey
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