Following the denial of a borrowing request for $36 million in sewage facility repairs at a Special Town Meeting, the Sewer Commission has filed an extension for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan with the goal of holding another vote in the fall, according to Sewer Commission Chair Bernie Pigeon.

The Sewer Commission and outside consultants have argued that the “headworks” and “clarifier,” which deal with sewage at the beginning and end of the treatment process, are reaching the end of their useful life and that replacing them is critical to keeping the plant functioning.

After much debate, Town Meeting voted 48-30 in favor of the project, but failed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed to approve the borrowing.

A more positive response to the borrowing request is anticipated for the next vote if more information is provided about the costs associated with the remaining parts of the plant, said Select Board member Alan Slavin.

Pigeon said whether the borrowing is approved by voters or not, this project needs to happen.

“If [the plant] fails catastrophically for any one of those issues, and [Director of the Water Pollution Control Facility] Guy [Campinha] can't handle the inflow before he gets it repaired — if it's that catastrophic — then it's a very serious problem for the entire community,” he said.

The state loan would have included approximately $3.6 million in grant funding and a low interest rate. The remaining costs were anticipated to be covered through a 17% contribution from Bourne and by increasing the sewer users’ rate.

Pigeon said he was “very disappointed” in the result of the vote and found it “very irresponsible” to possibly lose out on the benefits that come with this loan.

While the Sewer Commission, Finance Committee and Capital Planning Committee voted to recommend the town approve the borrowing, Select Board members held reservations when the commission and consultants could not provide information about repairs for the remaining parts of the Water Pollution Control Facility.

Many of those questions were regarding costs following the completion of this project. 

The sewer rate was anticipated to increase by approximately $80 to $100, according to Town Administrator Derek Sullivan.

Pigeon said if the loan was approved for borrowing, the commission would not be required to begin paying it off until the construction is completed, which is estimated to take approximately three years.

He said at that point, the commission’s total debt is expected to be lower and the addition of this loan would bring it “close to” what it is now.

However, Pigeon added there are a “number of issues coming up,” including additional repairs to the sewage plant as well as the collapsed sewer pipe and consistent backups of wastewater at Swifts Beach, which are beginning to show up in other parts of town.

These issues further increase the commission’s total debt, causing the sewer rate to increase, he said.

Another concern discussed at the Special Town Meeting was the ongoing issue of limited capacity at the sewage facility that has necessitated a moratorium on new sewer hookups. 

While the new “clarifier” would be deeper and approximately 20% to 25% larger than the one in current use, it would not increase its capacity, it would only allow for more efficient and effective filtration, according to Pigeon.

Slavin said, “I really didn't want to go ahead and vote for spending $36 million and for the residents that are on sewer to have to pay and have no idea where everything stood and how much more they were going to get hit with over the next — could be several months, six months, a year, two years, three years.”

He said, “I really needed to know what the status was for everything, and we never got an answer.”

According to Slavin, the Sewer Commission has obtained the loan extension. Pigeon stated that he has “copies of the [extension] request” but has not “seen or received confirmation” on its status.

Slavin said the next time this request is brought to Town Meeting he expects “the information needed will be provided to us — we'll have a better idea.”

Slavin said he believes the request at that point will be approved. 

At the Thursday, July 27 Sewer Commission meeting, Guy Campinha, director of the sewage facility, said it is “unfair” for the Select Board to ask for numbers and cost estimates without providing the details of exactly what they are looking for.

He also said the commission has a hard deadline of Oct. 31 to get the money appropriated.

If the commission does not obtain borrowing authorization, it is unclear how the town will come up with the $36 million needed to make the appropriate repairs.

Pigeon said he is unsure of whether the bill would go specifically to the sewer users or to the whole town.

Slavin said the response to such a situation is unclear at this time, adding if the plant were to fail the state or federal government may become involved.

Another concern Slavin said he had with the project was the lack of communication with Bourne officials who were expected to provide a 17% contribution to the repairs per the conditions of an intermunicipal agreement.

Though the agreement would necessitate this contribution, during the Special Town Meeting, Slavin said Bourne was neither aware of this project nor of their anticipated contribution of over $6 million.

Additionally, a concern for who is voting on this borrowing request remains, Slavin said.

Though approximately 60% of the town uses sewer, the remaining 40% of septic users still have the opportunity to participate in the vote, he said.

At the Tuesday, Aug. 1 Select Board meeting, Slavin said, “I think we're going to have to realize that's really not equitable long term for the town of Wareham.”