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Date: 1/9/2024
WARE — The Selectboard voted to create a subcommittee to review and rank needed projects for the water and wastewater systems during its Jan. 2. joint meeting with the Finance Committee.
The committee will consist of Town Accountant Tracy Meehan, two members of the Selectboard, two members of the Finance Committee and two residents or town employees knowledgeable on the issues, Selectboard member Nancy Talbot said. Talbot made the motion to create the committee.
Once formed, the committee’s main task will be to decide which projects to prioritize at the two systems as well as to discuss the predicted costs of the needed improvements, Finance Committee member Ken Willette said.
This vote comes after the Ware Selectboard voted to reject Aquarion Water Company’s offer to purchase the town’s water systems at its Nov. 14, 2023, meeting. The Jan. 2 meeting was designed as a follow up to this decision that would allow the Selectboard and Finance Committee to decide the town’s next steps.
“There is kind of an urgent timeline because the Finance Committee wants to minimize the amount of town dollars pulled from the ratepayer and the taxpayer side that are required, but the projects have to be done,” Willette stated.
He explained that prioritization must be completed quickly to allow engineering designs and an article for the May Town Meeting to be put together in order to qualify for a State Revolving Fund Grant, which the town hopes to be the “ultimate funding source” for the projects.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the projects’ costs must be authorized by the town by June 30 while an application and plan proposal must be submitted by October of the same year in order to qualify for a State Revolving Fund Grant.
Selectboard Chair Caitlin McCarthy also emphasized the importance of informing residents of the projects and the impacts to their taxes prior to the vote at the Town Meeting. In this way, residents will understand the multiple factors of their decision.
During the discussion, Selectboard member Keith Kruckas raised concerns over whether it was likely the town would receive the grant and if it should be pursued. He referenced a USDA grant from five years prior which Ware did not receive after failing to submit certain information.
“I’ve been told through the grapevine that they have zero interest in helping the town of Ware or helping us ever again,” Kruckas said. “So, I think that stuff needs to be on the forefront and know where we’re going if we’re gonna put efforts into something and know that we aren’t wasting our time.”
In response, Willette assured the board that “Ware would be very competitive against the criteria” of the State Revolving Fund Grant. Furthermore, he stated that other towns, such as Hardwick, that were similarly told by the USDA that they would not receive funding are now working with the department after Hardwick “was able to reengage [and] build a line of communication.”
Willette later went on to thank the Selectboard for its work on setting the rates for water and sewer, highlighting the financial impact from its decision.
“We are seeing a nice surplus in the water enterprise retained earnings. I believe it’s over a million dollars. And in the sewer … for the first time in several years there’s over $200,000 and a lot of that is due to the foresight of the board as sewer and water commissioners and bringing the rates in line, preparing us,” Willette said. “Now, there may be further adjustments that are going to be needed to sustain this plan, but you’ve done the right thing and thank you for that.”
Applications to join the water and wastewater subcommittee must be submitted to Town Manager Stuart Beckley by Jan. 12.