Health & Fitness
Back Montville WPCA
Yet opponents see some nefarious power grab. They obfuscate quoting this chapter or that verse of the charter, claiming greater insight than the lawyers that advised the council. everything,
This editorial was originally published in The Day, 03/17/2012
Monday's town meeting in Montville is tailor-made for the desires of a small, special-interest group to prevail. That group successfully petitioned to challenge a sensible ordinance clarifying the authority of the Water Pollution Control Authority, a matter that most towns would consider routine business.
It would be great if the town meeting would attract a crowd representing a cross-section of the town, because if that is the case we suspect the ordinance would be upheld and Montville can move into the 21st century regarding WPCA governance. Our fear, however, is that those all in a lather about the ordinance will be the ones who bother to show up and overturn it. Face it, the particulars of how a WPCA operates does not excite the interests of the average person.
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On Feb. 13 the council voted 5-2 to clarify that the WPCA, responsible for a $5.7 million budget dependent on revenues from water and sewer rates, should have control over its operations, contracts and employees. This arms-length separation from politics is typical of most communities. The ordinance's intent is to codify a 1995 town charter revision approved by voters to provide greater WPCA autonomy. The ordinance was the result of bipartisan discussions that included lawyers for both the authority and general government.
Under the change, the WPCA will still need voter approval of its rates, as provided by state law. And the authority cannot buy or sell land; that too will require council approval. Bonding for major projects will still require voter approval. The council appoints the five members of the WPCA board, including a council member.
Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In other words, the ordinance retains numerous checks and balances while providing reasonable autonomy for day-to-day operations and discouraging political meddling in a non-political function - providing safe drinking water and waste treatment.
Yet opponents see some nefarious power grab. They obfuscate quoting this chapter or that verse of the charter, claiming greater insight than the lawyers that advised the council. Underlying the effort is this need by some in Montville to control everything, rather than giving people the ability to do a job.
We urge citizens to attend the meeting, at 7 p.m. at Montville High School, hear the debate and choose.
