Council wants a veto over the new sewer board

The Water Pollution Control Authority on Oct. 6 voted to tell East Hampton's representatives on the Joint Facilities committee that the town wants Joint Facilities crews to keep maintaining its sewer collection system. No opposition was heard. Members said changing that had been raised by Colchester members.

The interim public utilities administrator said each town pays about $150,000 a year toward that crew and said he didn't think each town could hire the two or three people the work takes. He said Joint Facilities now has about five operators, down from seven in the past: "we're short-handed right now."

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East Hampton has received a state form asking it to confirm it would take over a water system proposed at 30 Long Crossing Road, Town Manager David Cox told the Water Pollution Control Authority Oct. 6. Members noted the property is a seven-lot commercial subdivision and the proposal has not gone through land-use approval. The authority took no action.

Under town code and state law, a system serving more than 25 customers comes to the town, Cox said. Members agreed the town would keep its water service area and take over the system if it becomes a community water system; if it doesn't, the town likely wouldn't. Resident Leonard Johnson said the area already has water-supply problems and asked who would pay if a new system fails.

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East Hampton's draft sewer ordinance would make a new seven-member commission, appointed by the Town Council, the town's sewer authority. The council holds that job for now. It is a working draft: its dollar limits are blank, and the town attorney is reviewing it.

Your rate. The draft leaves sewer connection and use charges, the rates on your bill, with the commission, because state law gives them to the sewer authority. State law also requires a public hearing, announced at least 10 days ahead, before any rate change. The commission would have to notify the council before a "material" rate change, a word the draft does not define. Town Manager David Cox said Sept. 29 the town attorney thinks council involvement in rates is probably fine, so this could still change.

Also the commission's call. Individual requests to connect, assessments on individual properties, orders requiring a property to connect, and technical rules for using the system.

Council approval first. Building projects above a dollar limit; buying, selling or leasing land; large or long contracts; deals with other towns, including Colchester, which shares the treatment plant; borrowing; unbudgeted spending from reserves above a limit; changes to the town's sewer plan, the map of where sewers go and where they are to be avoided; selling the claims the town holds against properties for unpaid sewer charges; settlements above a limit; selling off major parts of the system; and privatizing it or expanding the service area.

Emergencies. The commission, the town's public utilities administrator or the town manager could act without waiting, then report to the council.

Removal. The council could remove a commissioner for cause after a hearing.

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