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Selectmen ask voters to OK $250,000 agreement with Cemetery Association to secure well-site rights for water-project grant
Summary
Selectmen told the Budget Committee they reached an agreement to compensate the Farmington Cemetery Association $250,000 over 10 years (5% interest) for wellhead-rights and lost gravel extraction; the payment would be initially drawn from the Water Capital Reserve and repaid by water users. The article must pass a three-fifths ballot and is tied to a $7.2 million state grant for water infrastructure.
Selectman Charlie King told the Budget Committee the town has negotiated terms with the Farmington Cemetery Association to secure a wellhead site needed for water-system upgrades. Under the agreement the town would compensate the cemetery association $250,000 payable over 10 years at 5% interest for lost gravel rights and other impacts associated with siting the new well.
King said the up-front money for the initial payment would come from the Water Capital Reserve and the remainder and interest would be repaid through water-user charges; he said the plan is part of a larger water-infrastructure package tied to a roughly $7.2 million state grant. "To get our well permitted this agreement has to be in place and approved by the taxpayers or else we wouldn't be able to use the funding for this well," King said.
Selectman John Scruton noted the article requires a three-fifths ballot majority and urged that the warrant be placed early in Town Meeting so the polls remain open for the necessary time. He and King said the project also includes other well work and that the grant will cover a large share of construction and permitting costs, but the town must commit its local match and legal agreement to secure the state funding.
The Budget Committee reviewed the terms and heard that voters must authorize the long-term liability; no formal committee vote on this article was recorded at the January 28 meeting.
