North Brookfield approves letter seeking federal funds to replace failing wastewater clarifiers

The Town of North Brookfield Select Board voted to approve and sign a letter of support to Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office so the town can submit applications seeking federal congressionally directed spending and related grant funds for repairs at the municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The request centers on two secondary clarifiers — large circular tanks that separate solids from treated water — that the town says are roughly 35 years old and in failing condition. "They're both about 35 years old," the town's wastewater superintendent, Eric, said, and one clarifier currently has a "blown oil seal" and is "leaking oil." Eric told the board the clarifiers’ drive and gear mechanisms are rusting and near the end of their useful life.

The town is working with Kleinfelder, the engineering firm on the project, to pursue multiple funding sources. Eric told the board the town plans to seek between $1.5 million and $2 million in federal funding and may apply under programs described as part of the congressionally directed spending (CDS) process and a Community Facilities-type grant. "We're gonna apply for anywhere from 1.5 to 2,000,000," he said. He also said the grant programs typically expect the applicant to provide a local match of about 25 percent if awarded.

Board members were told the clarifiers’ mechanical parts are obsolete and cannot be repaired with spare parts from the original manufacturer. Eric said rehabilitating concrete surfaces is desirable but the town's more urgent need is replacement of gearboxes, motors and drives that operate the sludge-scraping mechanisms. Without functioning scrapers and drives, he warned, treatment would be compromised and the town would risk enforcement action. "Without that, we're gonna be looking at, EPA will be knocking on the door for sure," he said.

The Board approved the letter of support and directed staff to sign it and include it as part of the application package. Kleinfelder will prepare and submit the formal applications and handle contact with the senator’s office. Eric told the board the application deadline had been moved up unexpectedly, creating a short timeline for submission; the town requested permission to send one town letter of support as part of the application after unsuccessful attempts to secure separate letters from the sewer commissioners.

If the town is approved for funding, the town expects to be required to provide a local match (Eric used an example showing a $2 million project would require about $500,000 locally). The town may use retained earnings if necessary; Eric warned that tapping retained earnings would significantly reduce that reserve.

No additional votes on project design or contracting were taken at the meeting. The board's vote authorized only the letter of support and the town’s participation in the grant application process.