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Village fiscal officer resigns as council advances water and sewer rate increases
Summary
At the April 7 meeting, the Village of Greenwich heard a rate study recommending increases to water and sewer rates by July 2026 to cover operations and debt; Fiscal Officer Karley Binger announced her resignation and said a prior reduction to the sewer surcharge should not have occurred.
The Village of Greenwich council on April 7 heard a water and sewer rate study that recommends raising rates by July 2026 to ensure sufficient funds for operations and annual debt payments. Tony Burgoyne of engineering firm OHM presented the study and told council the proposed schedule is intended to build reserves needed for the coming year.
Fiscal Officer Karley Binger, who announced her resignation at the meeting, said the sewer surcharge was previously decreased and that reduction was improper because those surcharge funds were intended to create the reserve to cover semi-annual principal loan payments for the sewer fund. Binger also told council she had contacted the village contractor about reported sewer problems on Market Street and expects a contractor on site before the end of the week to address the issue.
Council approved Ordinance 2026-O-08 (amending section 1042.02 of the Greenwich Codified Municipal Code to revise water rates) and Ordinance 2026-O-09 (amending section 1044.02 to change sewer rates) for their first readings. Vote tallies for those first readings are not specified in the transcript; the ordinances will return for further consideration at the council's next meeting.
Residents and a meeting participant, Mr. Caskey, asked how localized sewer failures such as those on Market Street fit into the rate study. The fiscal officer responded that operational repairs are being scheduled and framed the rate adjustments as necessary to replenish the fund used for debt service and future repairs.
The council confirmed its next regular meeting for April 21 at 6:00 p.m., when the ordinances will likely be revisited. The transcript does not record specific vote counts or the detailed schedule of rate increases; those details were not specified during the April 7 session.
