WILTON — The Wilton Board of Selectpersons voted to move an estimated $78,000 of funds allocated to the proper disposal of sludge that is potentially contaminated with harmful forever chemicals, or PFAS, into the water and sewer department’s undesignated net principal.
Dalton Plante, who currently serves as interim water and wastewater superintendent after Heinz Grossman stepped down from the position in April, told the Select Board the department had funds remaining from the budgetary line dedicated to the disposal of sludge to a treatment plant in Madison.
Plante stated $200,000 was allocated to the budget for the year for removing and transporting sludge to the facility following legislative guidelines and regulations put upon the department in August 2022. Approximately half of the budget line was from a 15% sewer rate increase with the remaining half coming from the department’s own account.
In a phone interview with the Livermore Falls Advertiser, Plante explained that the funds were added to soften the rate increase. Originally intended to be a 30% rate increase, the department invested $100,000 of its own funds to cover any additional costs that came with the transportation of the sludge.
Plante estimated approximately $122,000 was spent on sludge removal, leaving $78,000, which he accredited the excess to “careful management”.
Selectperson David Leavitt asked if a motion could be made without having an exact amount at the meeting. Town Manager Maria Greeley confirmed it was possible and added she spoke with the town’s auditors to verify a motion can be made.
Leavitt and Chairperson Tiffany Maiuri asked for the specific wording for the motion, which Greeley provided.
“That [the Select Board] approve the balance in the sludge disposal/compost expenditure line to allow carry over as part of the total net position,” Greeley stated as the motion.
Plante specified the funds were going to be part of an unrestricted net position. Selectperson Mike Wells asked for clarification on the term ‘unrestricted’, to which Plante and Greeley explained unrestrictive would allow the funds to be spent to suit the department’s needs, as opposed to committed funds which are designated for a specific purpose.
Wells followed his inquiry by asking Plante if they were still testing the sludge. Plante said not at this time, but the sludge itself was never directly tested. It was their composted material that was tested for PFAS.
Wells said while Grossman was still the superintendent, the two of them discussed a potential amendment to the legislation that indicted towns whose testing provided negligible or undetectable results would not be required to transport their sludge to a treatment facility.
Plante indicated at the meeting he had not heard of any amendment, but testing showed non-detect on two types of perfluoroalkyl compounds, but one type was detected in their compost. He added that the levels were “below any kind of actionable levels or levels of concern.”
Wells expressed frustration over the lack of support from the state, saying, “We’re still hauling sludge, paying for sludge to the tune of $130,000 a year, over something that’s effectively undetectable.
“We wrote a letter to the governor that was sent out,” Wells added. “No response.”
Maiuri indicated that an amendment had been made Senator Russell Black, but failed to move forward in the house.
As for the potential second rate increase of 15%, with the first year of sludge removal in the books, Plante says the department would be reevaluating the need for such a steep increase in rates. Plante speculated a smaller, more incremental rate increase would be needed, but he would not know specifically how much until working through their budget for next year has been done.
“My goal,” Planted stated, “once all the sludge funding is stable, is to have incremental rate increases that will allow the department to stay up to speed as opposed to sudden, steep rate increases.”
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