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Belleair faces familiar question
By MARK DOTSON
Article published on Thursday, May 4, 2006 |
BELLEAIR – Town residents will be facing a choice at referendum in the weeks ahead that will, in part, sound like deja vu all over again.
Though the exact referendum language hasn’t been written, voters will decide whether the town should accept a 30-year franchise agreement with Progress Energy or buy the power distribution system.
“A decision of this magnitude should go to a town referendum,” said Commissioner Stephen Fowler.
The commission voted Tuesday night to establish the referendum at the first practical date, probably in June, but no exact date has been determined. The vote would be non-binding and would serve to give direction to the Town Commission.
Last year voters rejected the option of starting up their own power system.
“On the first vote there was no offer on the table from Progress,” said Fowler. “Now there is.”
Mayor George Mariani, a strong supporter of the failed attempt to break away from Progress Energy, eagerly agreed to a new referendum, citing the 30-year deal as too lengthy.
The town has the option of not signing the agreement and still continuing to receive service from Progress Energy, but if they do so Progress Energy will not honor an option to purchase the poles and wires present in the town.
Progress Energy has offered to underground Belleair’s utilities if the town pays for it. Progress Energy would continue to own the infrastructure.
Attorney Tom Cloud who represents Belleair in these matters indicated that Progress Energy’s offer is only good through May 17, after which the town could potentially lose the right to purchase the infrastructure.
“They (Progress Energy) only have one deal and that’s a 30-year deal,” Cloud said.
Cloud recommended that the commission vote to accept the agreement.
But, Fowler added that 30 years was two generations and said he wasn’t comfortable signing a contract with no accountability.
Mariani said the option of going without a contract was unacceptable and their only two choices were to “accept a substandard contract from a substandard company” or to take the buyout money being offered and go on their own.
“I don’t think we can fully inform our citizens before May 17,” said Mariani. “We need time to get the ballot language out to all citizens.”
The last Progress Energy referendum became highly contentious as political action groups on both sides of the issue lobbied strongly in favor of their positions.
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Article published on Thursday, May 4, 2006
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