Mayor Joe Petty Responds to SJC Sewer Ruling, Signals Willingness to Negotiate with Holden

“If he doesn’t want to negotiate then he can build his own system.“

By-Hank Stolz

Photo-Radio Worcester

Worcester, MA-Worcester Mayor Joe Petty with his reaction to the SJC decision that leaves Worcester owing Holden $35 million. The Mayor gave the background on the long running dispute. The Mayor said the City hopes to sit down with Holden Town Manager Peter Lukes to work something out. He stated that the city’s leverage in negotiating this payment was its ability to cancel the sewerage agreement with 90 days’ notice. “If he doesn’t want to negotiate then he can build his own system.” The conversation then shifted to housing development, where the Mayor defended the city’s approach to building a mix of affordable and market-rate units. Petty highlighted the upcoming Dr. Robert Goddard Centennial in March as a major event for the city, celebrating its history of innovation and its connection to the dawn of the space age. “We should be bragging about this. You really think about it. The industry took off right here from city of Worcester…”