A screenshot from the Ansonia Board of Aldermen special meeting on July 24.
ANSONIA – The Ansonia Board of Aldermen voted on a “repeal-and-replace” measure on Wednesday (July 24) that disbands the city’s Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) and grants its former powers to the Aldermen.
The move is intended as a temporary measure while the city continues to close on its agreement to sell its wastewater assets to utility company Aquarion. The two parties signed that agreement in June.
Aquarion is expected to take on all of the former WPCA’s responsibilities – now vested in the Aldermen – on the sale’s closing date of December 2.
During the Wednesday meeting, Alderman Steven Adamowski asked whether the sale could be affected by rumors of Aquarion itself being sold. In June, the state legislature convened and passed a measure that would allow the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) – a public utility company which is currently responsible for Ansonia’s clean water – to bid on Aquarion.
City corporation counsel John Marini, as well as spokespeople from Aquarion and the RWA, have previously said that Aquarion’s sale would not affect its deal with the city. Marini reiterated that position during the meeting, saying the deal’s “substantive terms” would not be affected.
“If anything, it could impact the oversight – more oversight, rather than less, and oversight by public entities, with less of a concern about corporate ownership,” Marini said.
Ansonia residents have previously raised concerns about Aquarion’s corporate status, saying in public hearings that the company is ultimately responsible to profits, rather than people.
City officials have pointed to the creation of a Customer Advisory Board, whose structure is outlined in the sale agreement, as a means of making sure residents are still heard after Aquarion takes over. Marini referred to that board as a “substitute board” for the WPCA during the meeting.
That board has not been created yet. It will be a temporary, city-appointed board with between 3 and 7 members, who will be some combination of Ansonia residents and Aquarion employees. Aquarion will be required to meet with the board at least four times over the next five years, after which it may dissolve the board.
The Aldermen’s first action as the acting WPCA will be to hold a public hearing on the sewer use rate. That hearing appears on the city’s website as scheduled for Aug. 1, but Marini reached out to The Valley Indy to say that it had been pushed to Aug. 8.
Check the city’s website for the most current schedule.
Under the terms of the sale agreement, a 34 percent rate increase will take effect gradually over the next five years. A single-family home currently paying $41.47 per month will continue paying that amount next year, increasing to $55.71 by 2029.
Below is a schedule of remaining steps in the sale, as outlined in a “transition plan” published by the city earlier this month.
On July 25, the city is scheduled to meet with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Aquarion and the city must collaborate on getting the wastewater treatment plant into compliance with DEEP regulations.
By Aug. 1, Aquarion will make offers of employment to all current employees, who will have 30 days to accept or decline those offers. Aquarion will also start recruiting to have a fully staffed operations department.
On Aug. 8, the Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing to approve an updated rate schedule, including use of the rate stabilization fund“as set forth in public approvals, term sheet and sales agreement.” This is the final public hearing prior to the sale close.
By Aug. 21, the city will need to approve a final billing plan that funds the WPCA until the sale closing date.
The city will appoint members to a Customer Advisory Board prior to closing.
The city will pass a tax exemption for Aquarion per the purchase agreement, and easement issues will be resolved.
Click here for The Valley Indy’s past coverage of the sale.
