Torrington approves $11.575 million appropriation for Harris Drive pump station amid public questions on cost and user-fee impacts

Torrington’s City Council and Water Pollution Control Authority on Monday approved a resolution authorizing an $11,575,144 appropriation for the Harris Drive pump station upgrade and related financing by revenue bonds or notes not to exceed $9,975,144.

The funding resolution (identified in the meeting as Resolution 143-302 and related action 143-294) passed by roll call after a public hearing in which Tom Kuffer, a Torrington sewer customer, pressed officials to explain why the project estimate had more than doubled from a roughly $6 million figure previously listed in the city’s five‑year capital plan.

“The write up on this D9 project calls for replacing worn electrical, mechanical equipment,” Kuffer said in public comment, adding that the pump station is in a floodplain and will need to be raised to ensure continued operation. He asked the council to consult the WPCA administrator and provide “some rough estimate of what the impact of the project … is going to be on the sewer user fees.”

City staff and project consultants said the larger figure reflects a more detailed, all‑in cost estimate. Lisa Musk Polola, project manager for Wright‑Pierce, said the city cannot go out to bid until the resolution is passed because the state needs to see funding is in place for the Clean Water application. “It’s my understanding that the city cannot go out to bid until this resolution is passed so that the state knows that funds are in place to actually move forward with the project,” she said, and added the resolution amount includes design, inspection and a 5% construction contingency.

Ed (first name provided in the record), identified in discussion as the WPCA administrator, told the council the consultant estimate is on the high side and that the city will apply for Clean Water funding that structures the package as roughly 80% loan at 2% interest for 20 years with a 20% grant. He said, under current population-and-user assumptions, he calculated “about a $24” increase per sewer connection, but emphasized the figure is an estimate and could change if bids or user totals differ.

Council members pressed staff about what had changed since the capital plan. Staff replied the capital plan number dated from more than a year prior to design completion and likely reflected just a construction‑only line item, whereas the resolution figure is all‑inclusive (design, inspection, contingencies, interim interest). Consultants and staff noted bids could come in lower than the current estimate.

Council discussion also clarified whether surrounding towns share the Harris Drive station. Officials said the station serves only Torrington customers and therefore shared‑cost IMAs would not apply to this particular facility; staff noted other pump stations that are shared would be governed by intermunicipal agreements.

Following the discussion the council voted by roll call to adopt the resolutions. Votes recorded on the motion showed Councilwoman Hannen Harrell, Councilman Micha, Councilwoman Rouette, Councilman Cavaniro and Councilman Oliver voting in favor; presiding officer declared the motion passed.

Council members also approved related payments from the sanitary sewer capital improvement fund, including invoice payments to Wright‑Pierce for design and construction administration on the Harris Drive project; staff noted these payments are expected to be reimbursed through grant funding.

Next steps: passage of the appropriation and financing resolution allows the city to proceed with the Clean Water funding application process and prepares the project to be bid once state funding is aligned. Officials reiterated the estimate could change when bids are received and said staff would provide additional detail on shared‑cost calculations and the effect on user fees if requested.