Sewer capacity update
The Council received this update from Town Hall earlier today...
Attorney Andrew Lord of Murtha Cullina, LLP called us earlier today and informed us that he had been notified by Bill Hogan of the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), that DEP will approve the WPCA's permit modification to re-rate the Treatment Plant from 3.5 mgd to 4.0 mgd. This will provide the facility with 500,000 gallons per day of additional capacity.
I have asked Attorney Lord to press DEP for a formal written notification of this re-rating, which will hopefully be transmitted shortly.
We recently wrote to State Representatives Mary Fritz and Al Adinolfi and Congressman Christopher Murphy asking for their intervention in resolving what was an apparent impasse between DEP and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Through the efforts of Congressman Murphy's office, a meeting was held between DEP and EPA, which apparently facilitated this result.
Tim White
Town Council, 4th District
14 comments:
This is good news for the north end project?
Tim,
Your enthusiasm is appreciated - but it may have been wiser to await formal approval to ensure there were no strings attached to the permit. And before everyone jumps on the bandwagon about the North End, the increase in rating for the sewer plant is a result of exceeding 90% average capacity and the sewer moratorium in 2006. Without this increase every time the plant exceeding its permit, we could have been fined.
This is another case of political pressure winning over science. George Bush has been an expert at this to protect the special interest and we have it alive and well in Cheshire.
There should be a court challenge to this increase.
The developers own Cheshire and more.
A court challenge? Political pressure over science? Either back those statements up with facts or stop wasting time.
Nice to know we have just "gained " capacity to process our "waste." Just in time as we will need it to process the waste we are all being fed. Now that the waste from North End Mall and residences can easily be accepted into our sewer treatment capacity the next time we exceed the capacity of the system we will be told the taxpayers have to pay for the increased capacity. A sneaky way of sneaking in the mall without the developers having to pay for an increase in sewer capacity.
I contacted the head of Public Works last year as 2 houses I own have Sump pumps that flow into the sewer system....it was during the inspections they were doing and I wanted to make sure I was home when the inspectors came around as they had come by and left a no one at home card on my door....I wanted to see what options I had so I could disconnect the pump from the town sewers....he never followed up with me and no one ever came back to my houses to check them.....
so it appears that the sewers are not the only thing full of (you know what)
How can this happen? What have we done to the system to merit this increase?
The math department at the high school was awarded a consultant contract to calculate the capacity of the sewer system. Using new math theories they came up with a higher capacity. Some did not understand the calculations and attempted to get an explanation from the Math Lab. Still no resolution, now they will try the on-line math lab just started.
WOW - This is great, what a good idea to re-rate the plant. It should save us some money. It may also allow WS to invest $175,000,000 in Cheshire. Gross tax revenues of $2,500,000 to $2,000,000 per year, oh and the permit fees of over $1,000,000, I am sure this will destroy our town.
Elizabeth Estey and Matt Hall did a great job for our local developers, Paul Bowman and Doug Calcagni and W/S Development.
They managed to replace 3 experienced members of Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) to insure that the authority would be in look favorable on the the W/S proposal. And just to be sure, they managed to get the DEP to approve a 10% increase to the sewer plant capacity. This was no easy feat and required planning from or before the W/S proposal was presented to the Town Council.
Thanks to their efforts, the town has gone from a moritorium on sewage hookups, to having sufficient capacity to easily support the sprawling mall and 160 apartments.
Wouldn't it seem that the design capacity would be the actual capacity? Would you expect that bridges are built with design capacities that are lower than their actual capacities? So without any modification to the plant, you can increase it with stroke of a pen backed by political pressure.
So, instead of diligently protecting the residents of Cheshire, Elizabeth and Matt chose to serve the developers and the Cheshire residents will end up with the cost of their service.
The developers run Cheshire.
Anon 2:32 How can you believe all this? The only conclusion I can come up with is your name is ----- --------. Good luck but watch out for the people to the East.
"I am sure this will destroy our town."
Of all you said, this is the only fact.
1. You say gross rev from $2.5 to $2.0 million are optimistic amounts. As Canton experienced, whatever the town assesses, it will be challenged over and over, and beaten down through threats of law suits. And, they will demand more and more town services.
2. All costs to the down have been low-balled to make it look like this will be cash positive. Now way.
3. The quality of life in Cheshire will be lowered by the loss of local businesses and much longer waits in traffic.
But the local developers, Paul Bowman and Doug Calcagni will really profit.
Nice try Justin.
So if I am to understand you, this will have a negitive cash flow for the town? Nothing positive?
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