11/5/1998 SEWER COMMISSION Minutes

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r Dennis asked if there are private firms that wiH set up a whole sewer system for a town? Ms. McKnight said aprivate company cannot assess betterments. DEP wouldn't let it happen because a company has no authority to make you pay your tax/sewer bill. Ms. McKnight explained in Weston the DEP approved a srna.11 plant for the town center. All the businesses got together and set up a corporation to own the plant,they all use it and.pay part of the cost. The town i's not involved.,She can look into what type of private arrangements DEP has approved. Torn said every port of the system that could remain private would be great. Toni asked if a sewer District is always a public entity? Can it be private? Ms. McKnight said Districts,under stag law are a rnurkipal type of entity. A condoms urn is way of having every owner pay for maintenance of common area. There are subdivisions where the homeowners association is a corporation and every deed has to pay dues for maintenance of common area, including sewer pumps. They have the power to assess liens for payment of. assessment. The difference erence a ree this and a condominium is a condo fee may come before the mortgage, this lien comes after the mortgage. Ms. McKnight said business improvement districts can do any kind of improvement but they need agreement by a certain percentage of the businesses int he area. Torn asked about heir ability to collect fees? Ms. McKnight said the have statutory authority. Once there is approval by the majority,they y can charge everyone fees for the work. There is a way to opt out of the agreement later. Torn said its not clear if a business improvement district could get into the sewer business. we need to know their lien ability. Mc. McKnight said it is usually Just a one time assessment and the business pays the whole amount up front. It might not be feasible for sewer projects. Torn said the Sewer Commission is willing to look at other ways to do this if it is more cost effective for the town. Ms. McKnight suggested the Sewer Commission hire an engineering firm to guide the town in its options, not just legal options. Torn understands that.He has meet with DEP to get assistance in developing the RFP for a wastewater facilities plan. The R.F'P includes 2 parts, a concept plan looking at all the towns options and a specific feasibility and preliminary design study for the effluent pipeline. The town is Hoping to work with New Seabury on a discharge location for the effluent pipeline. We know we will have to tie a lot more existing development in to accomplish any nitrogen reduction, including municipal building,housing authority, 3 schools, police and fire, library, ` church. Ms. McKnight asked if the town will take over the Mashpee Commons plant so they can tie in all those other projects around the plant` Tom said that is the idea but we want to avoid any unnecessary cost to the town.