Time to Open Closed Doors at City Hall

On Tuesday, May 6th, I called a citizens input hearing before the City Council’s Economic Development Committee to learn more about the city’s inflow and infiltration (I/I) policies, in response to the many complaints I’ve heard from businesses over recent months and years.  The hearing was well attended, and what I heard was downright alarming!

The message from businesses was loud and clear: I/I policies are hurting our local economy, depreciating the value of commercial assets and chasing new businesses out of Waltham and into nearby towns.  Businesses, both large and small, shared stories of other businesses leaving town because Waltham’s I/I policies simply don’t make sense.  Other communities with similar I/I problems have found thoughtful ways to remove I/I without hurting local businesses and Waltham needs to do the same. 

At the hearing, businesses shared stories about being asked to dig up city streets with no oversight, or worse, knock on the doors of residents and ask to replace their sump pumps.  Lawyers questioned the legality of some of the measures being imposed on businesses, some not even documented, and more than one person said they were surprised Waltham hasn’t been sued for the antics taking place at City Hall.  One after another, businesses asked “What is the City’s plan? How are the I/I mitigation fees being spent? When will this problem be resolved? Is there an end in sight?”  

City Hall cannot continue to make critical decisions behind closed doors without citizen input.  Because I/I is a serious environmental issue, Waltham residents have the right to know how the City is planning to solve these issues.  Not only has the City placed the entire cost burden for correcting a public infrastructure shortfall squarely on the backs of our local businesses, but it has also created nonsensical procedures for businesses to follow.  Does it seem appropriate for random businesses to dig up city streets looking for leaky pipes, or dig up private yards to repair or replace residential sump pumps?  

The doors and minds of City Hall need to be open to better, more reasonable solutions. Because more voices need to be heard, I filed a resolution to create an Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) Business Advisory Committee, made up of a variety of business people, to advise the Mayor and the Council on how better to implement an I/I removal strategy without the unintended consequence of chasing our commercial tax base straight out town. 

Waltham must avoid unintended consequences of the zoning rewrite as well.  Because the opportunity to undertake a comprehensive zoning rewrite happens less frequently than a blue moon, I filed a second resolution to establish a Blue Ribbon Commission, with Council participation, to consult with the Council and the selected consultant during the zoning review and rewrite process. This commission will include a non-binding body of local business representatives with expertise and experience with Waltham’s zoning and ordinances.   Let’s not repeat history and learn of unintended consequences after the damage is done. 


The closed door approach to governing we have witnessed over the last decade has created   troubling and unintended consequences, but we now have the opportunity to fix it. I hope the business community and residents of Waltham will join me in encouraging the City Council to quickly pass these two resolutions  and get some businesses around the table to lend their experience and expertise to help us find workable solutions that meet the interests of Waltham. If we open the doors of government to greater citizen participation, I am confident that the process will result in more thoughtful and impactful solutions. 


Thomas StanleyCity Councilor At Large