Weston Select Board votes to raise water rates 20 percent for fiscal 2024

WESTON — September 26, 2023 — Weston Select Board raises water rates 20 percent and takes up its first public tree management plan. The two-member hybrid board — Chair Lorie Bent and Member Tom Palmer — voted unanimously Tuesday to set fiscal year 2024 water rates at $3.20, $9.60, and $19.20 per unit across the three tiers, a roughly 20 percent increase from current rates, with Finance Director Susan Kelly projecting the move would lift retained earnings in the water enterprise fund from $2.9 million to approximately $3.3 million. Planet Geo's Chris Pfeiffer presented findings from a 2017 inventory of more than 15,000 street trees, 66 percent of which are rated in fair, poor, or critical condition, with annual management costs projected to reach $312,000 by years four and five of a five-year plan. DPW Director Tom Cullen described his department's current posture as "essentially a reactive group" on tree management. The board also appointed Tom Palmer to the Weston Affordable Housing Trust, approved Thomas Zakelli and Ann Benning to the Tree Advisory Group, and — in a joint session — confirmed Julie Johnstone to fill a vacancy on the elected Recreation Commission.