Middletown board approves HTO contract to manage water and wastewater plants; authorizes $20,151.60 transfer

The Middletown Board of Estimate approved an agreement with HTO for management of water services at the city's water treatment and sewage treatment plants and authorized a $20,151.60 transfer from the water and sewer fund to cover an increase in the contract price.

The measure was put forward by Mayor DeStefano and seconded by Council President Rodriguez and passed on a voice vote. Council members raised questions about staffing and the contract's annual cost during discussion before the vote.

Council members and staff debated the contract's annual cost. Staff presented monthly charges that, when annualized for a full year, were discussed as roughly $671,000; other participants referenced a combined water-and-wastewater figure of about $1.3 million. Jacob, a staff member, said, "They gave us an hourly rate of $75 in there for licensed operator, for the water treatment plant, and the same rate for wastewater treatment plant in case we need them." Council members discussed the proposal for a full-time operator provided under the agreement and asked which fund would pay for the contract increase; staff said the funds would come from the water and sewer fund.

The contract also lists an additional operator line item and a licensed-operator hourly rate that council members discussed as part of the total cost calculation. The approved transfer of $20,151.60 is intended to cover the immediate contract-price increase; the vote did not adopt a multiyear budget change beyond the transfer noted on the agenda.

The board approved the motion without further amendments. The contract will be implemented according to the terms presented to the board and paid from the water and sewer fund as identified at the meeting.