Selectboard chair Ray Eilers said that the new sewer ordinance was reviewed by Bob Fisher, the town attorney. In a memorandum sent to the selectboard, Fisher wrote that he had two concerns that needed to be addressed. The first one was to clarify annual charges.
Fisher questioned whether owners with parcels of land without structures must pay the annual fee toward the debt service or whether parcel owners with structures on their land are obligated to pay the annual fee. In the selectboard’s draft, Fisher noted, “There was a distinction between the payment of debt service and payment toward the operation of maintenance.”
Fisher also wrote “There was nothing requiring the property to have a building on it in order to be assessed the annual charge for debt service.” Since the town must issue general obligation bonds for the sewer system, Fisher added that “the debt service (must be paid for) by all taxpayers of the town through property taxes.”
To clarify this concern, Fisher suggested that the selectboard revise the sewer ordinance to say “For the payment of costs of development and construction and debt service, an annual charge will be imposed upon every owner whose homes are served by the sewer system, either directly or indirectly.”
Property owners and users will also be responsible for all capital costs associated with “expansions or extensions” of the public sewer system unless voters decide to assume all or part of the capital costs.
As for operational and maintenance charges, Fisher recommended annual charges for homeowners “who have a building or structure (on the property), whether the structure is occupied, and whether the premises are connected to the sewage system.”
Fisher’s second concern was setting up an enforcement policy. He suggested the selectboard develop a policy to handle issues “prospectively” rather than “retroactively.” Fisher noted that the town’s operation and maintenance charges had not been enforced on unoccupied buildings “for the last 25 years” but he still suggested a new policy to address all issues in the future.
No decision was made to approve Fisher’s recommendations.
Eilers had other concerns. In one section, Eilers noted that property owners pay a $500 fee for house connections. He suggested that the selectboard have the authority to change the fees any time they saw fit without having to amend the ordinance. “It should also say such fees may be increased or decreased at the selectboard’s discretion,” said Eilers.
Eilers’ other concern was whether to include homes that are grandfathered in the new ordinance. Eilers raised a scenario where a building has one unit, but is fixed up years later and now comprises eight units. “Are they still grandfathered for one (equivalent connector unit)?” asked Eilers. “We need to clarify it so that we don’t revisit this grandfather business.”
The selectboard will clarify Eilers’ concerns and present them to Fisher for further review.
Windham Solid Waste Management representative Jim Damato presented an update. Damato said the district’s annual budget increased by one percent (approximately $1.3 million) and the town’s new assessment for 2011-2012 is $9,708. Readsboro’s current assessment is $9,612.70.
Damato said that a company called Carbon Harvest Energy, of Burlington, has signed an agreement with WSWM to build a plant on the site and generate landfill gas power. Income derived from the plant will go into WSWM capital expenditure investments.
In other WSWM news, Damato said the district allocated $23,000 for household hazardous waste disposal. However, Damato said there were no participants from Readsboro at a recent hazardous waste collection in Wilmington. Damato thinks that needs to improve. “I don’t know what people are doing with their hazardous waste. Either it’s going into the sewer, our landfill, or people are eating it,” joked Damato.
if hes that unworthy and not to be trusted in office, how can anyone do business with him?