OXFORD — Voters at Thursday night’s special town meeting were assured by selectmen that they do not have to tie into the the new wastewater treatment plant sewer system as long as their systems do not fail.
About 50 residents approved an eight-article warrant that essentially formalized and created the tools needed to operate the Sewer Department and transition the sewer budget into an Enterprise Fund.
But they did not do so before spending more than 90 minutes questioning the provisions of the plan which has been set up in part to entice homeowners to tie into the system even if their current septic system is functioning properly, officials say.
“We need users on the system,” Town Manager Derik Goodine told voters.
Residents volleyed questions at Goodine and the Board of Selectmen in an attempt to find out how much the tie-in will cost them, when they have to do it to take advantage of a $500 incentive and other questions.
Homeowners were told that there is no way to tell them how much it will cost until the contractor hired by the town to do the tie-ins — Everett Construction — goes door to door to assess each job.
The board said the hook-ups would probably range between $500 and $5,000 based on a number of variables ranging from topography to electrical service and distance from street.
Homeowners were assured that they would know exactly what it will cost before agreeing to have the system tied into their property. The quote from the contractor will be good for 12 months, Selectmen Chairman Scott Owens said.
During the town meeting action, voters approved transferring $250,000 from the Reserve Funds-Unreserved Fund Balance Policy Funds to provide the $500 subsidies through a revolving loan fund managed by selectmen.
Approval of the articles also allows a portion of the loans from a revolving loan fund program to be forgiven as an incentive to hook into the system and to facilitate repayment of the $250,000 to the Reserve Fund over 10 years.
Voters amended the Sewer Use Ordinance by adding a section to set building permit fees based on the number of equivalent (dwelling) users. The fees would be based on establishments with similar functions or estimated wastewater production. The building permit fee is $1,000 per user and is adjustable by the Board of Selectmen.
Voters approved an amendment that will allow the Board of Selectmen to set the sewer rate annually, based on annual expenses and revenues. It will be calculated on a base rate times equivalent dwelling units, plus a usage fee based on water consumption for residential homeowners and commercial/industrial and governmental users.
For users who do not meter water, charges will be determined by the base rate times the equivalent dwelling unit plus 8,000 cubic feet times the usage fee.
Voters approved a building permit fee schedule for estimating dwelling units to be connect to the treatment plant and for calculating quarterly service fees.
In other action, voters approved quarterly billing for sewer charges, with 7 percent interest charged on bills unpaid after 30 days; allowed selectmen to establish annual fees for permit application and inspections; and allowed selectmen to establish a revolving loan fund or other program for installations and connections.
Voters were told that if they hook into the system within the first two years, the fees will be waived except for a $45 plumbing permit required by the state.
The sewer pipes have been installed along a portion of the commercial/business district on Route 26 and are now being completed along King Street. There is no timetable yet for any expansion of the system.
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