Markeshia Ricks Photo
The New Haven Board of Alders Monday night unanimously approved adding Stratford to the regional water authority, though a legal fight could be brewing with residents of that town.
In a roll-call vote during the board’s regular meeting Monday, alders unanimously supported the merger of Stratford’s wastewater system. That would bring the number of municipalities managed by the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) to five. The quasi-public agency currently manages wastewater for New Haven, Hamden, East Haven and Woodbridge.
The push for the merger rankled some residents of both New Haven and Stratford, who showed up to Monday’s meeting to encourage alders to either postpone their vote, or to vote to send the ordinance back to committee for another public hearing. IA judge on Tuesday granted Stratford residents’ request to stall the approval process there.)
East Shore Alder Sal DeCola, chair of the alder committee that previously voted in favor of the deal, said that the authority’s acquisition of Stratford will “have no direct impact on New Haven rates.”
That’s what seemed to sell several alders on the idea of the merger, which proponents have said would be mostly administrative and wouldn’t cost any current employees their jobs.
Westville Alder Adam Marchand rose to speak in support of the bill, saying that the merger appears to have both “fiscal and environmental benefits.”
The authority is acquiring Stratford’s facility for $16 million and the removal of $37 million of bonded debt. Under the terms of the merger, WPCA management would take over Statford’s plant, including pump stations, equipment and infrastructure. Stratford would save money by consolidating certain services, including regulatory compliance and sludge management, according to proponents. The Long Island Sound is expected to benefit because WPCA’s East Shore plant and Stratford’s facility both discharge there and would share methods of environmental protection.
East Rock Alder Jessica Holmes rose in support of the merger Monday night, calling it an opportunity to regionalize. Holmes said the merger would provide “greater efficiency and savings.”
Annex Alder Alphonse Paolillo Jr. (pictured at the top of the story with WPCA Treasure Gabriel Varca and authority attorney Glenn Santoro) serves as the chairman of the authority. Paolillo rose in support of the bill Monday night.
East Shore enviornmental activist Lynne Bonnett (pictured) said that doesn’t seem right to her. An opponent of the merger, Bonnett suggested that Paolillo’s role as chairman of the WPCA and BOA majority leader constitutes a conflict of interest on the issue. In response, Paolillo noted that the alders assign different members to serve on boards and commissions — in order to participate and vote and represent the alders. “I am part of the discussion,” he said. (He also said he turned down the opportunity to draw a stipend for chairing the commission.)
Bonnett called the decision to absorb Stratford hasty on the part of the authority, Stratford city officials, and now, New Haven’s alders. She called it a ploy to justify sewer plant expansion in New Haven, which she called unnecessary given the city’s success in reducing sewer overflows using green infrastructure source controls such as bioswales, rain gardens, rain barrels, and green and blue roofs. WPCA officials said the Stratford acquisition has nothing to do with sewer expansion. They said the WPCA will simply take over management of Stratford’s existing plant.
Varca said the city is mandated to expand the sewer plant by a consent decree with state environmental officials in response to the city’s combining of sewage and rainwater. Bonnett responded that the consent order requires the city to get raw sewage out of its rivers, and that it has several methods for doing that, including green infrastructure.
City Engineer Giovanni Zinn, who is working on those methods, said green infrastructure isn’t the whole answer for addressing the pollution problem. In areas that experience low flows, green infrastructure such as bioswales and rain gardens could be enough to handle storm water increases. But in areas such as downtown, it would be a lot tougher to handle with just green infrastructure.
Zinn said the goal is to prevent sewer overflows. He said green infrastructure is always at the top of his lists of solutions, but that addressing overflows involves a combination of green and gray infrastructure.
Bonnett accused officials of rushing the deal instead of spending more time on public debate. Officials disagreed. Varca, who also serves as the authority’s director of finance and administration, said in a previous interview with the Independent that the board had been looking into partnering with Stratford since 2013. (Read more about that here.) He said now that the WPCA has New Haven’s approval it plans to move forward with the acquisition and expects to close the sale by June 30.
Meanwhile, Stratford residents like Terry Masters (pictured) have gone to court to ask a judge to intervene before the sale is finalized. A Superior Court judge in Bridgeport is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday about why the sale should be put to a referendum vote. It is just one of two injunctions pending, Masters said.
Snake-Oil and Three Card Monte being sold.I smell behind closed door mackreal deal that was cut.How can Paolillo represent his ward when he sits on the WPCA.I hope they win in court.