Water, sewer fees and infrastructure cited as barriers to business recruitment in Hillsborough meeting

At the May 20 meeting of the Hillsborough Economic Development Commission, Water & Sewer Department representative Dana Clow said infrastructure needs and the costs to make required upgrades are discouraging small businesses and developers from locating in town.

"They can’t handle the fees that the system is requiring," Clow said, describing situations where the cost of necessary infrastructure work deters potential projects. Clow, who identified long experience as an engineer, framed the problem as both financial and procedural: developers are told to make system improvements, and those costs often make projects infeasible.

Planning Director Robyn Payson said the town has developed a reputation that fees are a barrier. "Water and Sewer has a reputation that businesses are not able to come in because they couldn’t pay the fees," Payson said. Town Administrator Laura Buono and others acknowledged the utility cannot fund large upgrades on its own and said the town has discussed possible ways to support the system.

Commission members debated the balance between requiring necessary infrastructure improvements and making Hillsborough competitive with neighboring towns. "If we are charging three or four times what they are charging...why come here?" Chairman Richard Pelletier asked, framing the competitive concern. Commissioner Kim Opperman suggested that part of the solution is clearly framing the purpose and benefits of fees to prospective businesses.

No change to fee policy or funding was approved at the meeting. Members identified the issue as a priority for future EDC attention and asked staff to consider steps the town could take—whether through messaging, partnerships or budget proposals—to reduce the reputational barrier for prospective businesses.

The meeting began with approval of minutes and ended with a motion to adjourn; both procedural motions carried unanimously.