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Peekskill schedules Feb. 24 public hearing on water-code changes after resident raises meter-cost concerns
Summary
The council set a Feb. 24 public hearing on proposed water-code amendments after resident Robert Sullivan urged review of language he said would shift repair and replacement costs for water meters onto residents, including condominium and co‑op accounts.
Mayor McKenzie and the Common Council scheduled a public hearing for Feb. 24, 2025, on proposed amendments to the city water code after the item was carried from a prior committee of the whole meeting.
Robert Sullivan of 15 Blakely Drive, president of the Wood Street and Westchester Homeowners Association, urged the council to scrutinize the redlined language in the proposal. "The concern that residents are having is that you're amending a statute whereas before you're charging people for repair and replacement of water meters where the city code clearly unequivocally does not charge," Sullivan said, adding that condominium and co‑op accounts could be classified as "commercial" under the proposed changes and face substantial costs.
Council members had previously discussed the water item in committee and the city manager asked that the public hearing be set so residents can comment. Deputy Mayor Riley subsequently moved Resolution J12 to schedule the hearing; the council approved the motion unanimously.
Sullivan told the council that his building had two meter failures last year and that the city ultimately repaired the meters without charging the residents after they reported the problems. He urged the council to reconsider any language that would retroactively or broadly impose replacement costs on account holders who are not commercial businesses.
The council will accept public comment at the Feb. 24 hearing; the city packet includes a redline of the proposed code changes. No formal change to the code was adopted at the Feb. 10 meeting; the hearing will be the next opportunity for public input and council deliberation.
