Hainesborough Assembly directs staff to draft Tanani Bay sewer service-area ordinance, with engineering and legal review

The Hainesborough Assembly voted 6-0 March 11 to direct the manager to prepare an ordinance introducing a Tanani Bay subdivision sewer maintenance service area, contingent on approval by a majority of voters in the proposed service area and on the assembly's acceptance of an engineering report and a legal analysis of infrastructure ownership.

Assembly member Stickler, who made the motion to follow the clerk's recommendation, said the change is intended to help residents "get into their homes and be able to run their gray water and their brown water," describing the step as "a positive step forward to resolving an issue that's been in our books since 1996." Stickler emphasized the urgency for residents to have safe, functioning service.

Assembly member Sargent offered an amendment requiring the assembly's acceptance of an engineering report on compliance and maintenance costs and a legal analysis of who owns the current infrastructure before the service area is established. Sargent said the studies would give residents and the borough clarity about responsibilities and potential costs before a vote.

Manager Sheila Fullerton and other members noted the borough's typical practice: user fees support ongoing operation but major capital needs have historically been funded through borough-wide capital funds or grants. During discussion Fullerton confirmed staff's support for using general-fund (Fund 01) resources to pay for the preliminary engineering and legal work so the assembly would not impose unexpected up-front costs on residents.

Clerk read the motion into the record: the manager is to forward an ordinance for introduction establishing a Tanani Bay subdivision sewer maintenance service area contingent on voter approval in a general or special election, and contingent on the assembly's receipt and acceptance of an engineering report regarding compliance and maintenance costs and a legal analysis of infrastructure ownership, with the borough assuming study costs from Fund 01. The assembly then adopted the amendment and the main motion, with the mayor participating in roll call; the clerk recorded a 6-0 vote in favor.

What happens next: staff will draft the ordinance per the clerk's recommendation, including the special-mail-in-election mechanism noted in the record, and return the ordinance to the assembly for introduction and subsequent public hearings. The motion did not itself enact the service area; it directs staff to prepare the ordinance for future consideration.

Officials and procedure: this action directs an ordinance to be brought forward and sets conditions the assembly has required the ordinance to meet (engineering and legal clearance and voter approval). Any future vote to adopt the ordinance or to place the measure before voters will be separate actions.