Citizens Public Input Hearing: Tuesday, May 6th @ 6:30 p.m. @ City Hall

Waltham City Council Asks for Business Input on Local I/I Policies

Waltham – On Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 6:30pm the Waltham City Council’s Economic Development Committee is hosting acitizens input hearing at Waltham City Hall to solicit feedback from local businesses on the impact of the City of Waltham’s inflow and infiltration (I/I) policies. City Councilor Tom Stanley, the newly appointed chair of the Economic Development Committee, has called the hearing in response to a vast number of complaints he has received from the businesses community on this issue.

 Inflow and infiltration (I/I) occurs when groundwater and storm water seep into sewer pipes, causing an unnecessary strain on sewer treatment systems and sewer system overflows. I/I is traditionally a result of antiquated infrastructure that requires repair or replacement, and municipalities typically manage I/I by limiting the flow of sewer through the system.

 The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) required the City of Waltham to enter into an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) to remedy the I/I problem a number of years ago, and that order was reissued in 2010. DEP has given the City a lot of latitude to implement policies that meet the goals of the ACO, and the locally-driven policies have been the subject of grave concern for local businesses. It is anticipated that real estate practitioners and businesses of various sizes will share their experiences and concerns with existing I/I policy, and call for the need to improve the predictability, affordability and efficiency of local I/I policies.

 Councilor Stanley and the Economic Development Committee are seeking ways to maximize economic opportunity in Waltham and remove obstacles that are preventing further investment in the city. The I/I hearing is timely because the ACO requires that the city submit to DEP a 5-year progress report and a new 5-year mitigation plan in August 2014.  Councilor Stanley is hopeful that the Economic Development Committee hearing will cause the administration in Waltham to engage the business community on the important issue of I/I policy. “Businesses are an important component of our community and they should have a voice in policy that have a direct impact on them and the local business climate,” said Councilor Tom Stanley. He continued, “When everyone is at the table, public policy outcomes are improved.”