West Newbury approves water master plan and rate study to guide infrastructure investments

Jack Haley, a member of the Board of Water Commissioners, moved the town to transfer $45,000 from Water Enterprise retained earnings to fund a water system master plan and $24,600 to fund a comprehensive three-year water rate study. The finance committee recommended approval of both articles, and voters approved them by raise-card vote.

Haley told residents the master plan will be a thorough inventory and review of the department’s infrastructure—wells, treatment, distribution and ancillary systems—designed to identify timing and levels of future investment. The deliverables will inform the later water-rate study and a subsequent water-rate article.

During discussion, resident Brad Busher asked why the department selected the firm identified in the transcript as "Tai and Bond" rather than the town’s previous consultant. Haley said the water board had reviewed available firms using state resources and selected the firm because it is used by neighboring communities; he added that the scope was negotiated, costs reduced, and detailed hourly breakdowns were obtained. He said the board was not required by statute to go to a formal procurement for this level of work.

Haley explained that the rate study will develop a rate-structure proposal for fiscal years 2028–2030 to balance ratepayers’ needs with long-term system reinvestment. The finance committee recommended approval "in conjunction" with the master plan, and the voters approved that motion as well.

The water-enterprise operating budget for FY2027 was also presented and approved later in the meeting. Officials said recent declines in water usage and revenue motivated careful scrutiny of expenses; the board and staff produced an operating budget that reduced expenses about 8 percent from historic spending levels. The enterprise article included retained-earnings uses and an indirect-cost allocation to the town’s general fund to reflect shared administrative services.