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Phase three construction moves forward after low bid; board to review Violia contract renewal
Summary
Staff reported a low construction bid (~$18.5M) for phase three and SRF authorization to award; phase two is closing out. The board was also notified that Violia contract renewal notice is due next January with a five-year renewal decision expected next July, and staff highlighted operational metrics and concerns about effluent wick depths.
Town and DPW staff told the board that phase three construction for the wastewater program has cleared a key administrative step: State Revolving Fund (SRF) staff have approved authorization to award the construction contract and the low bid (including add alternates) was about $18.5 million, below the project construction projection of $24.4 million. Counsel and staff said the contract is expected to be executed imminently and a pre-construction meeting will be scheduled.
Officials said the lower-than-expected bid leaves room within the appropriation and staff estimated the town could return up to about $10 million of appropriated funds over subsequent phases. Phase two construction is largely complete with only punch-list items remaining.
Violia, the town’s operations contractor, reported typical summer flows and that the plant is fully staffed; Violia recorded about 3 million gallons of intake and roughly 500,000 gallons of septage for the month and peak average flows of about 100,000 gallons per day. Staff said Utility Cloud asset-management software is being implemented for mapping and work-order management.
Board members raised a separate operational concern: the five effluent discharge "wicks" used for groundwater discharge have become shallower in some locations (comments noted a depth change from roughly 80–90 feet to about 40 feet), and commissioners asked whether shallower wicks change discharge hydrodynamics or long-term effectiveness. Staff said monitoring is ongoing and that engineering assessment and potential re-permitting will be required; they proposed inviting Tim Harrison (AON) and Wright-Pierce consultants to present wick monitoring data at a future meeting.
Separately, staff advised the board the Violia contract includes renewal options up to 20 years (municipal limit) and that staff will provide a draft contract and a recommendation on whether to extend by five years at the next meeting; notice to Violia is required six months before the renewal decision window.
