Only Procopio affected by Saugus I and I rate change

SAUGUS-Despite earlier claims to the contrary, Kevin Procopio will be the only developer affected by the tweak in the date the Inflow and Infiltration rate change was put into effect.The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday to reset the date that the I and I fee was dropped from a 6-1 ratio to a 4-1 ratio, making it retroactive by one day. It did so as a courtesy to Procopio who, the day before the vote, had written a $7,920 check to pay I and I fees on a four-bedroom home.Procopio argued that had he known the vote was going to be taken the next day, he could have waited and paid a fee $2,400 lower.Selectman Stephen Horlick voted against the change, claiming it would open a can of worms. He also announced the next day that in fact four other developers would be seeking refunds as a result of the change.But Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said that was simply untrue.Bisignani said there was only one other developer that filed and it was a week prior to when the vote was taken on Dec. 11.Horlick, however, maintained that both Selectmen Clerk Wendy Reed and Plumbing Inspector Arthur Rumson told him there were other developers involved.He also said he stands firm on his belief that by granting Procopio the waiver of sorts the board is asking for trouble.Reed said Friday that she had heard that other checks may have been processed the same day Procopio’s was, Dec. 12, the day after the original vote to lower the ratio, but she didn’t know when or even if they had actually been filed.She also said she had received no phone calls from any developers on the issue at all.Selectman Stephen Castinetti called Horlick’s remarks baseless.”There are not four other developers,” he said. “There are no others that meet the same criteria as Kevin Procopio.”Castinetti said there was one resident who paid an I and I fee for an addition on Dec. 5. He believes that check was processed the same day as Procopio’s but it was paid a week in advance.”Mr. Horlick was way off base,” Castinetti said. “There were no calls, there were no other developers and we don’t foresee anyone else coming forward.”Selectman Michael Kelleher also took issue with Horlick calling is remarks divisive.”It’s just not true,” he said.Kelleher pointed out that Procopio could have rescinded his check when he learned the board took the vote, but he didn’t think it would be necessary. And Kelleher added, it shouldn’t be.”We’re talking a whooping $2,400 here,” he said. “We would be wrong not to do this. I don’t know why (Horlick) wouldn’t want to do this to help out a resident.”