By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough – Voters at the Oct. 18 Special Town Meeting approved $2.2 million for the town's ongoing sewer extension project. Prior to the vote, the measure was the subject of much discussion.
According to Town Engineer Carl Balduf, this extension is the next part to be done in the town's comprehensive wastewater management plan. It will connect the municipal sewer system to several of the town's roads, including Fox Lane, Belknap Street, Crownridge Road, Lee Ann Circle, Spring Road, Morse Street and Adams Street. It will also include incidental existing sewer pump station improvements as well as construction and engineering services associated with the project.
Resident Gary Wells, 12 West St., said although he was not opposed to the work itself, he was opposed to the necessary debt serving required for the project.
Thomas Shea, 15 Cross St., asked Town Manager James Malloy if there was a cost benefit to the current system users by adding new users.
Malloy replied that for existing customers there would perhaps not be an initial savings but long-term, they would most likely see a reduction in expenses due to there being more users in the system.
The approximately $3,000 it would cost each new user to connect to the town's sewer system was a much better value than the $40,000 to $50,000 it would cost them to install a new private system, he added.
Several residents noted that they had been waiting for some time to hook into the system.
Alan Cusher, 7 Fox Lane, said, “Fox Lane is eroding under the road. More damage will occur if this project is not done. A lot of properties abut the wetlands. ”
Stephen Doret, 23 Mill Road, added, “It's the right thing to do. It's their turn now.”
The article passed by a majority vote.
