MEDIA ADVISORY

State Inspector General Warns Holyoke Mayor

To be accurate in financial information

On proposed privatization

FOR MORE INFORMATION AFTER CONTACT:

CITY COUNCILORS:

ELAINE PLUTA 533 2561

HELEN NORRIS 413 531-3264 cell

MARK LUBOLD 413-552 3948

KEVIN JOURDAIN 413 538 5519

HOLYOKE, MA – At 5 p.m. today (MONDAY, APRIL 4) -- A letter will be released to the public from the State Inspector General to Holyoke’s Mayor Sullivan noting concerns about discrepancies presented in the financial analysis of the proposed $176 million 20-year contract with one bidder, Aquarion Water Services.

In 2001 the Inspector General’s office advised cities in the Commonwealth against such one-bid projects.

The letter apprises the Mayor that the State is closely watching as the city goes forward in privatizing its waste water treatment plant with a one-bid process.

The letter and other information will be released at tonight’s special Department of Public Works meeting at 5 p.m. in the offices at 63 Canal St., Holyoke.

The Special DPW meeting was called  to set a new single rate after the City Council last week rejected the DPW’s proposed 3-tier rate structure that was designed  to meet the needs of proposed  contract with Aquarion.

The City Council ordered the DPW to return with a proposal for a single rate for the waste water treatment plant upgrade and Combined Sewer Overflow  improvement.

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