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Councilwoman Darby urges council to override veto protecting vulnerable households from water shutoffs
Summary
Councilwoman Darby and advocates urged the Wilmington City Council to overturn Mayor Kearney's veto of an ordinance that would bar water disconnections for households with seniors, people with disabilities or children under 5 who meet income criteria, saying the measure protects public health and dignity while leaving debt-collection tools intact.
Councilwoman Darby, sponsor of the ordinance, opened a press conference describing visits to constituents after water-shutoff notices prompted her to knock on doors and meet seniors, people with disabilities and families with young children. She told the council it would be wrong to remove access to running water for residents who meet the ordinance's vulnerability criteria and urged colleagues to vote to override Mayor Kearney's veto.
"This legislation does not stop anyone from paying their bill. It does not forgive debt. It does not eliminate responsibility," Darby said, adding the ordinance would allow the city to continue collections and establish payment plans. She said the bill would protect households that include "a senior, a person living with a disability, or children under the age of 5 who meet income requirements." Darby framed the measure as part of a larger water-reform agenda that should include an independent assessment of the water/sewer fund and a permanent affordability program.
Darby cited municipal finances, saying Wilmington raises water, sewer and stormwater rates yearly and writes off unpaid water debt; "As of March this year, more than 10,000 residential customers owed over $12,000,000 in overdue water, sewer, and stormwater bills," she said. She argued that—even if residential shutoffs are relatively few annually—the city should act to prevent harm to any vulnerable resident.
The council was expected to vote the night after the press conference on whether to overturn the mayor's veto. Darby asked residents to attend and speak during public comment ahead of the vote.
