Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Sewer Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Meriden officials outline water, sewer budgets and personnel changes; staff warn of rate increases and big CIP projects
Summary
Directors presented proposed changes to Meriden’s water and sewer budgets, including restructuring positions in the water division (creating an assistant manager), proposed rate increases (water +3.1%; sewer also up), and large CIP items such as a reported $40,000,000 estimate for the Elm(er) treatment plant. Staff said higher investment income partially offsets pressures but many expense drivers remain.
Meriden’s joint Finance & Personnel Committee on March 16 heard detailed presentations on the city’s water and sewer budgets and considered a personnel restructure in the water division designed to create a career ladder for operators.
Director of Public Utilities (Robert Peter) and sewer manager Frank Russo presented revenue and expense projections for the coming year. Peter said water usage is estimated to rise modestly (about 2.6%) and highlighted investment income included in the proposed budget; finance staff attributed the larger-than-usual investment‑income projection to recent federal interest-rate decisions. Peter said the current water rate shown in the budget book is $6.12 per 100 cubic yard and the proposed new rate is $6.31, a 3.1% increase; the council will consider a rate-resolution in late April and a final vote in May.
On personnel, staff asked the committee to authorize restructuring that would replace the superintendent-of-operations title with a water manager and create an assistant manager by zeroing out the water treatment supervisor position. Directors said the change would allow chief operators and treatment staff to advance internally; staff estimated a roughly $50,000 net first‑year savings from regrading and reassigning roles, though they acknowledged those savings were not reflected in the budget copy presented that night.
The capital improvement program review flagged several major items. Staff discussed a revised construction estimate for the Elm(er) treatment plant reported in the presentation as $40,000,000 and noted Miramir-related projects (dike repair, lagoon liner, storage tank) tied to federal funding and a prior cost-share arrangement. Staff said engineers and grant staff are reconciling prior estimates and that some CIP lines (such as distribution system lining) would be corrected before the final budget.
Sewer staff detailed cost pressures: rising biosolid disposal costs, increased electricity and chemical expenses, longer lead times and tariff-driven increases for pumps and motors, and recent emergency equipment failures that drove a one-time capital‑equipment increase. Frank Russo warned that pump and blower failures can be costly and that many overtime hours are driven by emergency alarms rather than scheduled work.
Councilors pressed staff for more documentation and historical data (requested actual investment returns and comparative rates for peer towns). Staff said higher-than-budgeted investment income remains in the enterprise account and offsets operating expense; they noted DEEP (state) permit rules limit reducing future rates unless formal rebates are issued. Directors also described reserve and rebate mechanics and said preventing service disruptions requires maintaining spare parts and capital funding.
On votes, the committee recorded an affirmative voice vote to create the assistant water manager position (the transcript records 'Aye' responses). Staff said a resolution to set water and sewer rates will follow city council schedule in April/May for final approval.
