HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-25 99-67 RESOLVE_COUNCIL
Item No99-6) _
Dania -25-99
Item/Subject: Resolve, Calling Upon the Federal Government to Provide Adequate Funding for
Costs Incurred by Public Utilities to the State of Maine as a Result of the Ice Storm of
jmmu 1998
Responsible Department: City Cootmil
Commentary:
The anacse t Resolve bas been prepared at the request of Councilor Raldecci. It addoseas retest actions A the
fedend levet regarding the tests associated with repair of due electric utility distriWaon system resulting fines the
ice atom of January 1998.
As yon are aware, eleeuie utilities as We Stale suffered severe damage k the storm, damage which 8enstallY is not
cove dl lhmugh fMml dissever relief funds. Working with repreamtntivea of New Hampshin%Vermont, anal
New Yoh, Mame's Congressional Delegation wes mccessfnl Is achieving a fdleml appropriation foe live
Community Development Block Gent Pmgrma intended to provide relief W, toe State's mtepayas by pmvidiog
foods targeted to utility system damage. Subsequmdy,however, the US Department of Housing and Urban
Development, w d srspprded ofCoegrtssimal imest, allocated these fords in snob a manner that Maine's share
will only be $2.1 million, a very small percentage of Wool damage. As a reaWt, Maine mtepayefs, who already
face the highest utility rate N Ne Coumry, me facing addiaoml tale iactesses restating from Ne coon incurred by
Mame wiliiss.
The enacted Resolve rapports We efforts of our Delegation and tails upon officals of HIB) and the fedcml
admmieuation to review and reverse tis decision or to Provide former fmWivg to mitigate ratepayer impact.
Depasimem Head
Manger's Comments: rf1 /
Associated Information:
Resolve
Budget APpmvah
CityMenager
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
city
Sp
inirgpuced for
45, Passage
_First Reading Page—of—
Referral
99-6)
Assigned to Counritoe Parnham January 25, 1999
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) ggliDi Iet.....GWBo®.Llpouihe.Fatleral.Gossermlm4te.P.sossv1e.Ade,ywte.Fuudiag
for Coate Incurred by Public Utilities in the Stale of Maine as a Result of the Ice Storm of
DY the City Cw+si! of Ns L'r'ty WBaaa9r:
RESOLVRD,
WHEREAS, theicestotmofJanuary 1998caused significant and widespreaddmmge to the public utility
distribution systems servmg the Stale Of Mame; and
WHEREAS, in response to this damage, the United States Congress appropriated $130 million in
CommunityDevelopment Block Gran[ funds with the intent that a sig afficam portion of these
fords be made available a the states affected moat directly by this storm; and
WIHLREAS, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in disregard of Congressional intens
walmerally, reduced the anticipated allocation to the State of Maine to $2.l million; and
WHEREAS, as a result of this action, ratepayers in the State may be required to pay, for the vest majority
of the cast of damage to the electrical system through electric rate increases which will
compound the negative effects ofwbat are already among the highest electrical was m the
country; and
WHEREAS, the Maine Congressional Delegation, in concert with the delegations of New Hampshire,
Vermont, and New York are working to convince the U.S. Department of Homing and Urban
Development, other members of the Federal administration, and members of the United States
Congress to reconsider the decision of the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BANGOR TFIAT we applar W the efforts of the Maine Congressional Delegation to provide adequate
finding a mitigate utility cote increase¢ projected to occurs cover the cost of damage to the State's
electric utility distribution system w a result of the ice sarin of January, 1998. We call upon the
Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal administration to review and
reconsider the allocation decision which has been made. Should this decision not be eval uated, we
urge the members of the Maine Congressional Delegation to continue their efforts a provide adequate
federal assistance to mitigate the efforts of &a saran on Maine ratepayers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT the City hereby request a meeting with officials of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development and other appropriate federal officials in discuss
these concems.
IN CITY COUNCIL
January 35, 1999
Motion for Passage Made
and Seconded
Passed
CI ECK
99-6I
R E S O L V E
Proviso "equate ganging Lott Costa 10-
arced by hblic Utilities In the State
of Maine as a Result of the Ice Storm
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