Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sewer Contract topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council waives bid requirement, authorizes five-year contract with Violia Water North America for sewer operations
Summary
The North Branford WPCA and town council approved a five‑year operations, maintenance and management agreement with Violia Water North America and waived the bidding requirement, citing limited market bidders and long prior performance; motion carried with one opposition and one abstention.
North Branford — The Water Pollution Control Authority and town council voted June 16 to waive the town’s bidding requirement and authorize the town manager to enter a five‑year agreement with Violia Water North America to operate and maintain the town’s sanitary sewer collection system.
Staff described the services that Violia will provide under the proposed agreement: 24‑hour emergency response, monitoring and maintenance of five pump stations and four metering stations, monthly activity reports, routine video inspection and jetting of parts of the system, a $25,000 annual allowance for maintenance and equipment improvements, and periodic meter calibration. Town staff said the vendor has provided the town’s sewer services since 2005 and had been the only bidder in the most recent solicitation.
The contract, as presented, keeps the scope of services largely unchanged for the five‑year term. The proposed escalation schedule presented in the packet was 0% in year one, 1.5% in year two, 2.75% in years three and four, and a CPI‑based adjustment in year five; staff said Violia had offered some flexibility on the final year depending on the CPI.
Councilors asked questions about the $25,000 maintenance allowance and whether it is “use or lose.” Town staff replied the allowance is not use‑or‑lose; unspent funds roll to the next year for capital improvements. Staff also clarified that the town attorney reviews and approves contract language but does not vote on council motions.
Deputy Mayor McMillan moved to waive the bid requirement and authorize the town manager to sign the agreement; the motion was seconded by Counselor Diamond and carried after one council member registered opposition and one abstained.
The motion authorizes the town manager to finalize the contract subject to the town attorney’s review of the contract language. The packet and staff presentation identify Violia as the incumbent operations contractor and note prior multi‑year extensions. The council did not release a detailed vote roll call naming how each member voted.
