[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6479319,"mediaKeyId","5701422-96cc3e51a9b088366816583362d6d50f","parentId",5701422,"title","Commission approves water tie-ins, authorizes $17,400 for Route 20 sewer cleaning and discusses emergency spending delegation","audioSeconds",1756,"startMs",2084000,"endMs",3840000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701422-96cc3e51a9b088366816583362d6d50f&start=2084&end=3840","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701422-96cc3e51a9b088366816583362d6d50f/thumbnail_2084000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479319/Town-of-Charlton/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Commission-approves-water-tie-ins-authorizes-17400-for-Route-20-sewer-cleaning-and-discusses-emergency-spending-delegation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479319-9ba0fe73f1501f1884a0f1d4a126d44d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771018352&Signature=RPcTybhxObYH7-bZjsCNjPc0Dmzz1T~vqiPj5-ve9Z2qqEbgdlD4gbBx-3puX4WWbWuunZ3sB-512VkmI2UIvJGnWUOxo17eRucwfEB8lBedZHIiFlCXPib47V1v~~RX7eIc6XtmjTUDNQMOAdnyAlVE2lbpv12gTgEU~6X0JdjhKsvRhupKtxpCFvlS5nICUi4VbHiarYaigJ6tcLwBjb00xIr7XDiFYRUvykxXk8mUO9a1JbZyq5khS70ys7-v2rlzriL6KFh3JqS-cJYWCDni77~ZjmFm3Kw8KXYrZuclRrb0-iEMNPdJmZ-pIUC-NEK0JdzqPQCpv~B-ygl2CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charlton","date","2025-08-30T07:52:35Z","article","The Water Sewer Commission approved several connection requests, accepted an abatement, authorized camera and jetting funds for Route 20 sewer work and discussed delegating limited emergency spending authority to operations staff.

On a motion and roll-call votes, the commission approved an abatement for account “5E” for Quarter 4 2024 billing (Cheryl presented the paperwork and the group voted aye). Commissioners then approved permission for 86 Berry Corner Road to tie into the water system provided connection fees are paid; the vote was recorded as aye by commissioners present. For a proposed connection on Old Whistler Road (Jay Du Bois), the commission granted preliminary approval pending sign-off by Southbridge water staff (Chris McClure) and payment of privilege fees.

Installation and system-capacity questions were discussed at length. Chris McClure (consultant/operator) and Steve Gregoire (Southbridge water operations) briefed the commission on distribution considerations such as pressure zones, reduced-pressure devices, booster pumps and the need to coordinate permits and inspections across Southbridge and Charlton. Steve told commissioners that under the existing intermunicipal agreement (IMA) Charlton can use up to 500,000 gallons of water per day; he noted current averages are roughly 150,000–250,000 gallons per day and that the system has capacity to grow but that some planned infrastructure (the large tank/augmentation) should be brought online to address residual and pressure issues.

The commission also authorized use of FY25 funds to perform camera inspection and jetting of the sewer run along Route 20 (the corridor with recurring backups). Commissioners moved to encumber up to the contract allocation (approximately $17,400 in the Veolia contract line item for cleaning/inspection) so the work can be scheduled before fiscal-year-end and continue into FY26 if needed. The motion carried on roll-call.

Commissioners discussed operational delegation for emergencies. Operations contractor Vinny asked what spending authority he should have for day-to-day residential tie-ins and for emergent repairs. Commissioners asked staff to draft a short delegation protocol; the group discussed a working threshold (example discussed: $10,000 per incident) and agreed staff will circulate a proposed written protocol for review at the next meeting.

Separately, Chris McClure reported progress on a vault hatch for a Route 20/Concord Road project (a cover and frame were fabricated, and the contractor will place it before final pavement). McClure also urged periodic cameraing and jetting because the line has not been inspected since 2023 and showed signs of recurring issues.

Ending: The commission approved the listed tie-ins and the abatement, instructed staff to encumber cleaning/inspection funds to allow work this summer, and asked Veolia/contract operations to produce a draft emergency spending and monthly reporting process for approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Water and Sewer Commissioners' Meeting June 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Water Sewer Commission approved several connection requests, accepted a major abatement, and authorized up to $17,400 from FY25 to camera and jet the Route 20 sewer line; the commission also discussed emergency-spending delegation for operational staff.","taxTitle","Town of Charlton, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",54464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479324,"Charlton commission votes to develop policy requiring connection fee upfront for new construction",1005,1027000,2032000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701422-96cc3e51a9b088366816583362d6d50f&start=1027&end=2032","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701422-96cc3e51a9b088366816583362d6d50f/thumbnail_1027000.jpg","/articles/6479324/Town-of-Charlton/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Charlton-commission-votes-to-develop-policy-requiring-connection-fee-upfront-for-new-construction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479324-fb43f3d71317cb1e8d058c5a1e8720d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771018352&Signature=TotVqF39r31N-OqmMwk4xB~qv~ylbSQEBVVhT~6~dAlZP1X95KNDyXy9UEZCtE2tP8-JLnuGWLhRnhtEwRp2N5kocBPC~sBp92~Kks6eyMd1jcyAVpDkWWqWQhOToGdijjnnhzIaccUueuuZailaF~c3cOu9Gqw1Rqu9kK3sTAIFgnIYnBABNtGuZzuvLSGlacX~HyjFEjXgJfglKMi0V1nn4wBGtt1Q3vlAMQo5Ioky5~pAypq1tMfMP~7pNiWb1pwJnwUdG~y~oKfjGwjVbv-pBhi2pA0TbHu8K2mCAxvGcrMwueyAhh2uGxYMJWyO3yCChUK2HZOkqTlu7FIMmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Water Sewer Commission voted to ask staff to draft a policy requiring upfront payment of the town’s $8,200 privilege/betterment fee for new construction and certain additional connections.

Kathy Stanley, Charlton’s assessor, told the commission the $8,200 fee historically was allowed to be spread over 20 years for existing homeowners when sewer mains were installed in front of older properties. She said continued construction in town makes the annual betterment option problematic when builders do not pay at closing and buyers later face unexpected charges. “The $8,200 fee that allows somebody that is in an area where they can receive the service to pay the connection fee,” she said, and urged requiring payment at permit for new builds.

Commissioners debated how to treat new construction versus existing homes. Commissioners agreed to direct staff to draft a policy that would require upfront payment for any new construction where a betterment has not already been assigned; the draft policy should include accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and provide for individual exceptions where appropriate. Cheryl (town collector) said staff can add a privilege/betterment fee line to sewer permit forms so payments are checked at permitting.

A motion to develop the policy, with staff to present a draft at the July meeting and an implementation target of Aug. 1, carried on a roll-call vote with commissioners recorded as voting aye.

Ending: Staff will prepare a draft policy and updated permit language for the commission’s July meeting; commissioners said they will consider exception rules for existing homes and review the master file of prior betterment payers before final adoption.","The commission voted to direct staff to draft a policy requiring payment of the $8,200 privilege/betterment fee at the time of permit for new construction; the draft will be reviewed in July and the commission targeted an August 1 effective date.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479329,"Charlton wastewater manager reports employee departures, electrical failures and flow instability at plant",547,221000,768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701422-96cc3e51a9b088366816583362d6d50f&start=221&end=768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701422-96cc3e51a9b088366816583362d6d50f/thumbnail_221000.jpg","/articles/6479329/Town-of-Charlton/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Charlton-wastewater-manager-reports-employee-departures-electrical-failures-and-flow-instability-at-plant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479329-1e1b131a770629cdec437f2ae1556e2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771018352&Signature=QsW16gHTZSMEZ7ASXvbCPt-dFZpm73Jgj3fiQlzOrYNFOHw4TRVO9KMkdfNMJ6ZI1YDw5S0FZ5jCF-eqjB15MtRkOcH5Z~Fum1BJuTc7fJvEGC6w~1NNap6Z68M3qjfZTzLEKXJBciMiP5gKPUSRLoo0ZAylhs-TS-m59Fq9bRbgaNWb9ezVsVT96BD0y~pm3AH8R9-mXX~VWM0tJcbQnt6wmmWOHqWGrhaOtjoTowM1hgXrmBVp8MFyjkhm2e4PbPloMFiUEdmoOJNcOc88Bnj5IAggSvsf4YEaDtvfzILbOpTFeT1z2zWORHqbthZJBwaTJZJxf-fKFvOjrfKArQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dennis, the new Veolia project manager at Charlton’s wastewater facility, told the Water Sewer Commission the plant suffered multiple staff losses in April and several equipment failures that have affected operations.

Dennis said the plant “lost several of the employees at the wastewater plant” in April and that one employee handed in his keys and walked out on April 29. He said one senior operator remained part time through a transition and that Veolia was covering shifts with staff from Sturbridge and a temporary operator brought in from Lynn.

The new project manager described electrical problems in the equalization (EQ) tank area that damaged variable-frequency drives (VFDs) and underground wiring. “We filed many burned wires and melted insulation,” he said, and contractors had to replace underground wiring after short circuits and other failures. He also reported that one ultraviolet (UV) disinfection train went down because of a bad power socket and was repaired.

Commissioners and staff discussed operational impacts. Dennis said the plant is running all 10 RBC units and that loading and large day-night flow swings appear to be straining the biological process: daytime flows rise while nighttime flows sometimes drop toward zero. He said Veolia has engaged internal engineers to model options and that one idea under consideration is recycling effluent to stabilize flows. He told the commission he expects more firm recommendations “probably in the next 2 or 3 weeks.”

Commissioners raised specific local concerns: members noted repeated sewer backups on Route 20 at different locations this year and a major January event near the Amazon facility. Dennis confirmed crews used an emergency contractor to clear a recent blockage near Route 20 and that inspections show the line is currently free-flowing. He also reported routine work for April: six sludge loads to Cranston for disposal, delivery of six totes of caustic, about 600 pounds of polymer delivered, and 216 50-pound bags of soda ash in inventory.

No formal board action was taken on the operations report; Dennis said Veolia will return with further analysis and recommendations. The commission pressed for follow-up on engineering findings so it can assess whether future connection approvals or capacity allocations need to be limited while the plant’s biological process is stabilized.

Ending: Dennis and Veolia will provide another operational update after the engineering review; commissioners said they expect that information within a few weeks and will consider it before making any capacity or connection determinations.","New Veolia project manager told the Charlton Water Sewer Commission that several plant employees left in April, electrical failures damaged VFDs and underground wiring, and flow fluctuations are stressing the rotating biological contactors (RBCs); consultants have been engaged to study options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission approves water tie-ins, authorizes $17,400 for Route 20 sewer cleaning and discusses emergency spending delegation

Charlton commission votes to develop policy requiring connection fee upfront for new construction

Charlton wastewater manager reports employee departures, electrical failures and flow instability at plant