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Litchfield WPCA adopts new collection, capital and debt rules; policies effective July 1
Summary
The Litchfield Water Pollution Control Authority unanimously adopted new Rules & Regulations and companion policies on June 18, 2026 that formalize collection and enforcement of sewer user charges, capital outlay/project authorization, a debt service fund process, and a 90-day fund-balance minimum, all effective July 1, 2026.
The Litchfield Water Pollution Control Authority unanimously approved a set of Rules and Regulations revisions and companion policies on June 18 that formalize how the Authority will collect delinquent sewer user charges, authorize capital outlays and capital projects, and carry debt service in the operating budget.
Chairman Chris Levesque said the board would consider each item from the public hearing individually and confirmed all approved items, including rates and rules revisions, are effective July 1, 2026 (fiscal year 2027). The commission adopted three new Section X entries to the Rules and Regulations: Collection and Enforcement of WPCA Sewer User Charges, Capital Outlay and Capital Project Authorization, and Debt Service Fund.
The newly adopted Collection and Enforcement policy establishes monetary enforcement thresholds that the board may adjust without a public hearing. Under the policy, balances under $25 receive billing and written notice with interest; balances from $25.00 to $499.99 are subject to demand notice and may be eligible for lien filing through the tax collector; and balances of $500.00 or more are eligible for state marshal enforcement, with marshal fees charged to the delinquent account holder. The board noted that the annual EDU charge is $424, so a residential account unpaid for two years would exceed the $500 enforcement threshold.
The Capital Outlay and Capital Project Authorization section clarifies that capital outlay items (for example, pumps, equipment or vehicles purchased from the operating budget) do not require Board of Selectmen or Board of Finance approval, while capital projects that exceed current operating resources and require financing (for example, bonded projects or state loans such as the planned SSES/I&I study) would require those external approvals. The Authority also documented that Fund 66 (the capital construction reserve) may be accessed for qualifying capital needs with board approval, including for emergencies.
The Debt Service Fund provision memorializes the process for carrying principal and interest obligations for any capital debt within the WPCA operating budget and for remitting payments to the town treasurer. Commissioners emphasized this language is intended to guide future boards on payment structures and budgeting for loan types.
Bill Buckley moved to approve the rules and both policies; Kate Honan seconded. All members present — Chairman Chris Levesque, Bill Buckley, Kate Honan, Keith Shortsleeve, Raz Alexe (Public Works Director) and Ted Donoghue (Plant Superintendent) — voted aye.
The Authority said the policy updates and procedural clarifications are meant to improve financial transparency and provide operational certainty ahead of planned capital work this summer.
