Water board signs revised Hopedale billing deal
Water · Meeting of September 9, 2026
Mendon Water Commissioners set an October 1 hearing on a Hopedale-driven rate hike after getting notice months late. Chairman Kevin Rudden, Commissioner Vincent Roy and Commissioner Douglas Hartman unanimously signed a memorandum of understanding amending the Cape Road Agreement, shifting Mendon to Hopedale's tiered billing structure. The board also voted to transfer up to $1,000 (actual: $708.64) from retained earnings to close a fiscal 2026 enterprise fund shortfall caused by an extra Hopedale quarterly bill, and authorized clerk Dan Beyer to issue a water system operator RFP due October 1.
Commissioners said Hopedale approved a 10 percent water rate increase effective July 1 based on a Tighe & Bond study, learned of only through Hopedale's posted minutes: "That doesn't make any friggin' sense," one commissioner said of the billing terms. Water Operator Michael Miller flagged a resident's $500 water bill for board input.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,237 words
Source: the Water meeting of September 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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