Committee advances concept to require municipalities to report excess wastewater capacity amid debate

The Planning and Development Committee on Feb. 20 raised a concept that would require municipalities to report excess wastewater capacity. Senator Ramanan moved the concept and Representative Delnicki seconded.

Senator Gordon announced she would vote no, saying the reporting requirement would be burdensome for towns and potentially misleading because capacity can change quickly: “I'm gonna vote no on this. I don't see there's...a reason that we should be asking municipalities to provide another report.” Representative Haynes said disclosure could be useful when towns apply for state funds and could foster regional cooperation: “I do think that some of this information is worthwhile.” Representative Delnicki, who has experience with plant reporting, said towns and sewer authorities already track flow and treatment numbers and that the request is not unusual.

The committee proceeded with a roll call; the clerk later summarized that Senator Gordon, Representative Dubitsky and others voted no while Representative Haines and others voted yes. The committee advanced the concept to a public hearing on Feb. 27.

Members asked staff to clarify reporting frequency, the metrics to be reported (plant flows, gallons treated) and how the state would use the data before crafting statutory language.