Stratford WPCA elects Brian O'Connor as chair, approves sewer bid authorization and pump repair

The Town of Stratford’s Water Pollution Control Authority on an evening meeting elected Councilman Brian O'Connor as its chairman and approved two action items affecting local sewer infrastructure and equipment.

Councilman Aurelia nominated Brian O'Connor for chairman; the board closed nominations and elected O'Connor by voice vote. "Congratulations, chairman O'Connor," the presiding official said after the vote.

John Casey, the town engineer, summarized the board’s first action item: authorizing the town to solicit bids for a sewer extension on "Main Street Putney" that would serve two houses and be assessable to the benefiting owners. Casey said the two property owners had emailed support for the project and that a public hearing will be scheduled after bids are returned so the project can be awarded and, later, costs assessed. The board moved and approved the authorization to go to bid by voice vote.

Tom Hyde, superintendent for the Town of Stratford’s Water Pollution Control operations, reported a failed internal recycle/irrigation pump and requested board approval to use $15,066.91 from account 389386199 to have Landia, the original equipment manufacturer, rebuild the failed pump so the town would have a ready replacement. Hyde said the pump is "pretty hardworking" and that failures have occurred biannually in the past; he added that the rebuild is intended to have a spare on hand. Board members asked about warranty length; Hyde said he believed it was "six months or a year." The board approved the rebuild expenditure by voice vote.

During discussion Hyde referenced the cost of purchasing a new replacement pump, which in the meeting transcript appears as "about $4,045,000 dollars." That figure is implausibly large for a single pump and is flagged as a probable transcription error in the audit; participants discussed the new-pump price in the meeting as a point of comparison for the rebuild decision.

Vincent Marino, the town attorney, had no report. The board set its next meeting for Feb. 26, 2024, and adjourned after a motion by Alvin O'Neil.

Votes at a glance:
- Nomination/election of chairman (Brian O'Connor): motion to nominate by Councilman Aurelia; nomination closed and chair elected by voice vote (approved).
- Authorization to bid — sewer extension on Main Street Putney to serve two houses: motion made and approved by voice vote (approved).
- Repair/rebuild — Landia internal recycle pump, $15,066.91 from account 389386199: motion made and approved by voice vote (approved).

What happens next: staff will solicit bids for the sewer extension and schedule the required public hearing after bids are received; the pump rebuild will be completed by Landia and placed on hand as described by staff.

Sources: Meeting transcript of the Town of Stratford Water Pollution Control Authority meeting.