Rome council debates sewer upgrades and Navitas plan; interfund transfer fails
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Summary
Councilors spent much of the March 25 meeting debating a package of sewer-plant upgrades tied to a Navitas design-build proposal and a prospective Chobani facility; a proposed interfund transfer (Resolution 51) failed, but the council approved a bond ordinance to fund planning.
Councilors on the Rome Common Council spent significant time on March 25 discussing a two-phase plan to upgrade the city sewage-treatment plant and a proposed partnership with design-build firm Navitas.
Councilor Dursley said the work is needed to secure Department of Environmental Conservation permits on their five-year cycle and to prepare the plant for the prospective Chobani facility anticipated in 2027. “We are going to have to fix some lights, some UV lights in one section and fix a overheating issue in one of our presses,” Dursley said, noting those repairs are part of immediate steps to obtain permits and enable future expansions tied to biodigestion revenue.
Navitas, Dursley and other councilors said the firm has recent experience on a similar project in Webster, N.Y. Councilor Riley said he was confident in the company’s work and recommended that councilors tour a sewage-treatment plant before approving project extensions. “I was very confident with them,” Riley said.
After debate on funding mechanisms, the council voted on Resolution 51 (authorizing an interfund transfer into the sewer improvements upgrade capital project); the chair announced the resolution "miscarried" (failed) on the voice vote. Separately, the council approved Ordinance 9857, authorizing issuance of bonds not to exceed $2,833,405 to finance planning for future sewer-system capital improvements.
Commissioner Michelle Giuliano said she will prepare a cost analysis and report to the municipal operations committee and then share that analysis publicly, allowing councilors to consider next steps once engineering findings and cost estimates are available.
The council also discussed the potential revenue model tied to biodigestion and tipping fees, which Dursley described as a way to create a more sustainable revenue stream for the plant. The chair asked staff to explore arranging a plant tour in late April so members can better understand operations before further commitments are made.
Next steps: Giuliano will deliver a cost and engineering analysis to the municipal operations committee, and the council may revisit funding authorizations after review.
