[Adopted 10-19-2017]
Subject to the passage of a Charter Revision referendum in November
of 2017, the Board of Selectmen shall appoint a seven-member Sewer
and Water Commission which shall be subject to the oversight and supervision
of the Board of Selectmen. There may be an additional two alternate
members appointed by the Board of Selectmen that may serve as full
members of the Commission in lieu of members that may not be in attendance
at a meeting of the Commission.
The area of the Town served by the public water and sewer system
of the Colchester Sewer and Water Commission, as may be expanded or
reduced from time to time, shall be designated as the Sewer and Water
District. Those areas beyond the Sewer and Water District, under the
established Exclusive Service Area of the Town of Colchester, are
to be determined by the Board of Selectmen for service provision,
acting as either the Water Pollution Control Authority or Municipal
Exclusive Service Provider for the Town of Colchester as provided
for by State of Connecticut Regulation.
The Sewer and Water Commission annually will develop a budget
of operating and maintaining the Sewer and Water District services.
The Public Works Director shall submit the draft budget to the Commission
for final recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for approval and
adoption. The Sewer and Water Commission annually shall develop and
recommend to the Board of Selectmen a schedule of rates and fees for
sewer and water services. Prior to submitting the recommendation the
Sewer and Water Commission shall hold a public hearing to present
the budget and these rates, along with a comparison of such budget
and rates to those in effect in the last completed fiscal year and
in the current year to date fiscal year. The Director of Public Works
shall prepare, review, and present to the Board of Selectmen the recommended
budget and rates of the Sewer and Water Commission. The Board of Selectmen
may alter such budgets and rates as it deems appropriate.
The Sewer and Water Commission shall annually recommend to the
Department of Public Works any construction and expansion of the Sewer
and Water District and any expenditure for the care, maintenance or
reconstruction of the sewer and water system.
The Sewer and Water Commission shall administer the operations
of the Sewer and Water District, including the construction, reconstruction,
establishment, planning, restoration, enlargement, improvement, removal,
care, repair and maintenance of all sewer and water systems in the
District, and shall exercise all those responsibilities and provided
recommendations to the Board of Selectmen in regard to the water system
and Exclusive Service Area provider responsibilities.
The Sewer and Water Commission may, upon the authorization of
the Board of Selectmen, negotiate any contract incidental to the provision
of sewer and/or water services, such contracts for system repair or
system expansion, except any labor contract or collective bargaining
agreement. In no event shall the sewer and Water Commission or any
member thereof execute these contracts or bind the Town in any way.
