Old Lyme — The town's selectmen said Monday they will join the Board of Finance in its review of the Water Pollution Control Authority's activities.

The finance board voted in June to authorize up to $19,900 to hire a lawyer to study the WPCA's handling of finances. The board has since formed a subcommittee for its review.

The finance board's decision followed residents' rejection at a town meeting this spring of an appropriation for additional costs the town incurred for the development of a wastewater management plan for the town's shoreline neighborhoods.

First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder said Monday she has informed the Board of Finance that the selectmen want to work together with the finance board.

On Monday, Reemsnyder also said she has reached out to the plan's engineers to set up a meeting to find answers to a question raised by WPCA member Dimitri Tolchinski.

Tolchinski had asked about the engineers' charging the town for revisions to the wastewater management study beyond the original scope of work. Two years ago, the town voted to spend up to $185,000 for a wastewater management plan for the town's shoreline areas, conducted by engineering firm Woodard & Curran.  

The revisions by the engineers were in response to comments from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Reemsnyder said she has reached out to the engineers and will report back to the selectmen.

"I think it's a big question mark and I think it's worthy of asking them the question," she said.

During public comment, Tolchinski presented the selectmen documents from Old Colony Beach Club Association, which independently conducted a wastewater management plan. The association used a firm other than Woodard & Curran. 

According to his presentation, the documents show Old Colony Beach engineers did not charge the association extra — beyond the original approved amount — for completing revisions requested by the DEEP.

Meanwhile, the town received an order in June to complete its wastewater management plan for neighborhoods identified as Hawk's Nest, Miami Beach Association, Sound View, Old Colony Beach Association, Old Lyme Shores Beach Association and an ancillary area along the shoreline.

WPCA chairman Kurt Zemba said at a Board of Selectmen meeting last month that the town should focus on how it should respond to a recent order from the state to complete the study, rather than "pointing fingers."

The WPCA will meet again next month. At the last meeting, WPCA members said the town's response to the wastewater management plan is up to the selectmen.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich