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Town officials report progress on wastewater plant design and state advocacy for funding
Summary
Black & Veatch engineering work continues on a redesigned, lower‑capacity wastewater plan; town staff reported a Clean Water Revolving Fund representative will advocate for federal/state funding and the town is pursuing an Administrative Order of Consent with EPA before a larger media push.
Select board and staff provided an update March 18 on the multi‑year wastewater treatment project, telling residents that engineering and legal work are advancing and that state advocates have offered to press the town’s case at higher levels.
Dylan, the town’s wastewater lead, said Black & Veatch is performing value‑engineering work and pursuing final design options that could reduce facility size and cost. He said the firm is working concurrently on design elements to avoid delaying the schedule, though he cautioned that major slips could affect the five‑year timeline.
From a funding perspective, the town reported encouraging outreach: a representative from the state Clean Water Revolving Fund contacted staff after town meeting and said she will advocate for the town during early April trips to Washington. Town staff noted they will finalize the Administrative Order of Consent (AOC) with EPA before undertaking any broad media or external funding push so the town’s legal and compliance picture is clear.
Finance staff confirmed the town has an authorization line for borrowing (referenced as up to $5,000,000 in prior materials) and that some additional borrowing to cover urgent lagoon or pump replacements is likely. Public works described an increasingly probable need to replace aging sludge pumps — a capital cost the board said will likely be covered by previously authorized borrowing and repair accounts.
Board members said they will continue to press for external grants and low‑interest loans through the Clean Water Revolving Fund but will keep citizens updated as the design and funding plans crystallize. The board asked staff to report back in the coming months with final cost‑estimates and an updated funding plan before any project bids or major procurements.
