Williamstown – Members of the committee evaluating whether to pursue a private firm to operate the Hoosac Water Quality District split evenly along municipal boundary lines last week. And the issue of privatization could be stalled if votes are split in similar fashion when the committee presents its recommendation to district commissioners Nov. 13.
The evaluation committee voted 3 to 3 on the privatization issue, with Williamstown members against and North Adams members for pursuing negotiations with U.S. Filter. North Adams Mayor John Barrett III has long advocated privatization of the sewer plant, saying it would improve efficiency. If privatization were approved, contracts for operation could extend up to 20 years.
At the Oct. 30 committee meeting, Williamstown members, citing cost and local control, said they favored retaining the current public structure of the district, noting that Ridelto “Rusty†Nodal, plant operator, has instituted improvements and economies in its operation. North Adams members maintained contracted operations would cost less, with no loss of local control.
HWQD Commission Chairwoman K. Elaine Neely calculated that contract operation would cost the district $2.9 million more over the 20-year life of the contract.
“Every contract proposal costs the district more money than continued operation by the district,†Neely said.
She confirmed that a split commission vote would block privatization.
“The commission needs a 3-1 vote to carry any motion,†she said. “Clearly Williamstown and North Adams have different outlooks on how the district ought to be run.â€
North Adams Administrative Officer Mary Katherine Eade cited the large operators’ management systems and procedures, administrative support and technical support, plus negotiating experience with regulatory agencies in explaining her vote to pursue negotiations with U.S. Filter. “Public operations lack the depth of experience and resources that private operations can provide,†Eade said. “Public operations cannot indemnify the city of North Adams from fines and penalties for consent decree violations that private operations have committed to.
North Adams Commissioner John Moresi also cited technical services, expertise and support, along with cost savings, to explain his vote.
Committee member and Williamstown Department of Public Works Director Timothy Kaiser joined Williamstown Commissioner William Fox in voting against contracts with U.S. Filter of Norwell and Aquarion of Londonderry, N.H.
Nodal, who as the plant’s chief procurement officer served on the committee, said he did not vote because, “There may be a conflict of interest because my job may be at stake. Some concerns were raised on this issue by North Adams representatives.â€
Kaiser said he voted to retain the present public system of operating the plant because of cost, continued risk, loss of local control and the improvements in efficiency implemented over the past year under Nodal’s leadership.
But both Moresi and Ronald Boucher, North Adams committee member and commissioner, said voting to pursue negotiations would not obligate the district to opt for the contract, only to explore it.
“Contracted operations will cost more,†Kaiser maintained. “The base proposals coupled with continuing district costs, such as property and liability insurances and professional oversight of the contractor, will be significantly higher than the current cost to operate the plant.â€
Any innovations developed to reduce operating costs would benefit the contractor rather than the district, Kaiser said, because U.S. Filter would keep all the savings and Aquarion would keep half.
“The cost of capital improvements will remain solely the responsibility of the district, yet any economies derived in terms of maintenance or operating costs will again benefit the contractor,†Kaiser said.
He said the district would also continue to be exposed to unknown additional expenses. He said, in theory, one of the major benefits of contract operations is for the contractor to relieve the district of the risk of complying with its permit. Both U.S. Filter and Aquarion would assure compliance — but not if failure to comply was beyond their control, due to high flows, abnormal loadings, etc., he said.
Kaiser said the contractor could force renegotiating the contract price for reasons such as changes in flows, loadings and permit limits.
“Once a long-term contract has been executed and district employees become contractor employees, the district will be in an extremely weak bargaining position,†he said.
And, he said, neither contractor under consideration offered suggestions that current staff had not already implemented.
“I have seen nothing from either proposal that would lead me to believe that the plant would actually be operated or maintained better, or for less money than it currently is,†said Kaiser. “In fact, I suspect the opposite to be true.â€
Commissioner William Fox.
Dick Johnson of U.S. Filter told committee members that the district would save money with a contract.
The district has been forced to make significant plant improvements under a consent decree with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which found the plant in violation of its permit to discharge wastewater into the Hoosic River over a period at least a decade.
Last week’s record-breaking downpours sent the plant into overdrive, dealing with a high peak flow of 18 million gallons per day on Wednesday, Oct. 29, according Nodal. But he said the plant has not exceeded its pollution limits.
Nodal said the high flow indicates a severe problem with “inflow and infiltration,†which allows storm water into the sewage system.
“It’s not good for the towns either, because 70 percent of the apportionment figures come from flow,†he said.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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