Vote’s Done, What’s Next For Derby Sewer Projects?

Now that Derby voters have approved a $31.2 million sewer repair referendum, the city’s Water Pollution Control Authority is talking about changing due dates on its annual sewer bills.

Instead of getting hit with a WPCA bill in June that is due July 1 (the same time property taxes are due), the WPCA bill will be staggered.

At least that’s the talk so far. The WPCA yet to make the change, because it takes more than a simple vote.

WPCA Chairman John Saccu told the Valley Indy last week the authority first has to change its regulations, which requires a public hearing.

Members of the WPCA are scheduled to hold their next meeting Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of Derby City Hall.

The change in WPCA due dates is important because the approval of the $31.2 million referendum is expected to add $257 to a typical single-family sewer bill. 

The Derby Board of Aldermen made a similar change last year for car taxes. Half the car tax bill is due in July, with the other half due in January.

Voters Nov. 4 approved the sewer referendum by 503 votes, 1,759 to 1,256.

The money will be used for a host of upgrades and repairs to the sanitary sewer system and the city’s water pollution control facility. 

The costs include $8.9 million for upgrades to the water pollution control facility, $7.6 million for a new Roosevelt Drive pump station, and $3.6 million to replace sewers along Route 34.

The city is also expected to create an oversight committee to make sure the WPCA projects do not go over budget. Derby has created similar watchdog committees to track the construction of the Derby Middle School. One such committee is still in place for the $5 million roof replacement projects ongoing at three of the city’s four public schools.

Saccu, the WPCA chairman, said last week the referendum results were ​“bittersweet” — necessary, but still expensive.

“It passed by what I think was a pretty good margin. I think people are saying we need to get our infrastructure taken care of. Otherwise, where is the city going?” Saccu said.

Saccu said he will work with the city’s corporation counsel and the city’s treasurer for the next steps concerning the bond.

“In the meantime, we’ll be putting our plans together as to what projects will move forward,” Saccu said.

Members of the Water Pollution Control Authority — which oversees the employees at the WPCA — are volunteers.

Saccu and engineers from Weston & Sampson were the referendum’s public face for the yearlong build up to the Nov. 4 vote.

Saccu, on the WPCA for about four years, often took the brunt of residents’ dismay at the costly repairs. In addition, residents were angry that the WPCA had never built up a reserve over the years.

“Where did the money go?” was a common question.

“I’m not sure where you go with that question because it was never specific enough,” Saccu said. ​“If the question referred to the last few years that I’ve been here, the budget is available to everyone and they can go over it line by line at any time. If they’re talking about the past, I couldn’t really speak to that because I don’t know what the budget situation was years ago.”