The fee is assessed to help finance city efforts to monitor and control storm water issues.
WESTFIELD — The City Council has launched a review of storm water management and fees adopted in response to a federal mandate two years ago.
The review is headed by the council’s Legislative and Ordinance Committee and will determine if changes in both regulations and fee structure are warranted.
James E. Brown Jr.Ward 2 Councilor James E. Brown Jr., who opposed adoption of the regulations, said he continues to question the feasibility of the measure.
Also, Councilor John J. Beltrandi III questions several aspects of the fee structure and regulation, specifically new state regulations that require new residential subdivisions to establish storm water controls as well as management and treatment of storm water required at industrial sites.
“How can we, as a city, also charge these people an annual assessment on storm water discharge when they are maintaining onsite controls,” Beltrandi questioned.
Brown said he plans to schedule a May 7 meeting on the issue and will ask city officials including engineering and public works to assist in the review.
“There are many questions and Legislative and Ordinance will take a hard look at the storm water fee assessed to residents and businesses. I voted against the fee originally and I am still not convinced that it is right,” Brown said.
The fee structure was adopted in May 2010 in an effort to help finance a new storm water management division within the Department of Public Works. The new municipal agency is the result of federal mandates requiring the city to monitor storm water that enters area rivers and maintain the city’s collection system.
Homeowners are assessed $20 annually and businesses between $100 and $640 annual, depending on the size of building and paved parking lots.