No answer yet on a water system for 30 Long Crossing

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'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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The seven-member commission East Hampton's council is drafting would set sewer rates and plan the system. At a Sept. 29 workshop, two residents asked that its members be experienced. One said they "cannot be trained as they go. This is far too important." The other asked that the draft's line saying the council "may consider" professional experience when appointing members say "must."

Council members who spoke did not take it up. "I don't see how we can force a volunteer to have that," one said. Another said it would be surprising to fill seven seats with people "who have all had experience." Town Manager David Cox pointed out that "must" would only require the council to consider experience: "It just says you must consider it." A third member suggested "should."

The resident who asked for "must" also wanted a firm notice deadline, at least 15 calendar days or 10 work days, before the commission acts on a major decision. The draft says "sufficiently in advance." Members did not settle it.

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