Stonington WPCA supports $10 million sewer bonding
Stonington — Water Pollution Control Authority members on Tuesday voted unanimously to support a plan to bond $10 million to pay for what they describe as critical repairs to the town’s three sewer plants and 17 pumping stations.
After a virtual public hearing, the authority voted to send the proposal on to the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance, which will vote whether to approve the bonding. There will be no referendum vote on the project due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the hearing, letters from 14 people or organizations in favor of the bonding were read into the record by Chairman Richard Cody, while one letter came from a resident who suggested the town look at an alternative way to finance the work.
Among the groups and individuals speaking in favor of the project were the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, the Waterfront Commission, Shellfish Commission, The Mystic Harbor Management Commission, longtime Board of Finance member Glenn Frishman and Mystic Aquarium President Stephen Coan.
Cody explained the system is at a point where equipment is failing and more problems are expected. This will not only be costly but Cody said it could result in the town violating its discharge permits and the state issuing fines and ordering the town to make repairs. Failures also could pose environmental threats to the Mystic River, Pawcatuck River and Stonington Harbor.
Cody said the system is not aging but aged. He added the town cannot wait for equipment to break due to the long lead time needed to order and manufacture parts and pumps.
Due to historically low interest rates, authority member Lynn Young said that for the owner of a median priced — $318,000 — home in town, taxes would increase $21 a year over the 20-year life of the bond, beginning with the 2021-22 budget.
“So this is a pretty good deal,” she said, adding the town doesn’t want to be in a position where residents can’t flush toilets or take a shower. “We don’t have any choice. These are critical things we have to do.”
The bond also will allow the authority to study a long-term solution of eventually replacing the three plants with one facility to serve the whole town.
If the bond is approved, the WPCA plans to return the $1 million in the 2020-21 budget for sewer system capital improvements to the town.
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