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Sewer advisory report warns of tight reserves as longtime operator retires further
Summary
The sewer advisory committee told the board late retirements and staffing changes have left the plant dependent on consultants and flagged the need for a capital-reserve budget; the committee recommended preparing for upcoming large-ticket items including PFOA testing and an emergency generator.
The Sewer Advisory Committee outlined financial and staffing risks facing Hague’s sewer districts, warning the town’s current reserves may not cover an unexpected catastrophic failure.
Speaker 2 reported expiring exemption appeals for sewer connections, third notices sent to unconnected properties, and a directive from Supervisor Patrick to prepare a capital-reserve plan for the 2025 town budget. The report listed expected large-ticket needs: a new truck, a permanent emergency generator for the Village pumping station, PFOA testing, employee retention costs and billing improvements.
Speaker 2 also announced the further retirement of longtime operator Joe McDowell, noting McDowell’s role in training licensed operators and achieving cost savings by bringing repairs in-house. "Joe… was instrumental with former member Jim Beatty and New York Rural Waters representative Steve Green in the asset management program," the report said, acknowledging his continued availability as a consultant in emergencies.
The committee will develop budget recommendations for the board to consider during the 2025 budget process, with an emphasis on creating sufficient capital reserves to avoid sudden assessments on system users.
