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Residents and owner urge water main extension on Griffin Road to address PFOS contamination; commission delays final fee waiver
Summary
ECK Realty and residents pushed for a privately funded water main extension to stop repeated PFOS testing of private wells; commissioners discussed waiving privilege fees for properties that sign letters but deferred a final decision until paperwork and property counts are verified.
A proposal to extend municipal water down Griffin Road to remove homes and businesses from private‑well PFOS testing drew extensive discussion at the Charlton Water and Sewer Commission meeting and was carried forward to the August agenda so staff can gather complete paperwork.
A representative of ECK Realty explained the company owns the land where a former scrapyard produced elevated PFOS levels and that repeated testing and state involvement have burdened residents. “The only way that we will be free from them in a sense is to run a waterline from the bottom of Griffin Road and connect every house and business on Griffin Road,” the speaker said, adding that letters of support exist from multiple homeowners.
Chris McClure of McClure Engineering told commissioners that, in prior town projects where a private entity extended water infrastructure and then turned it over to the town, the commission did not assess privilege fees to the affected properties. McClure cited Charlie Crossing and Berry Corner Road as precedents. Commissioners discussed whether to waive privilege fees for addresses with signed letters; staff reported six signed letters in hand and some remaining addresses to confirm.
Commissioner questions focused on the extent of contamination, who would pay for construction, which properties are eligible, and how to document sign‑ups. The applicant said construction would be out‑of‑pocket by the private party; the assessor’s office would later determine whether financing options (installment billing) are available to spread any assessment. The board recognized the public‑health rationale—reducing exposure through municipal drinking water—but also emphasized the need for complete documentation and firm property lists before acting.
Because the motion to waive fees referenced only the six signed letters and additional signatories were plausible, commissioners ultimately postponed a final vote so staff can collect all paperwork, verify property counts and signatures, and, if needed, prepare separate assessments for each address. The commission asked the applicant to return with complete paperwork at the August meeting.
