Charlton panel approves $44,783 water connection fee for 9 City Depot and green-lights Ash Road backflow preventer

The Town of Charlton Water & Sewer Commission approved a recommended water connection privilege fee of $44,783.03 for the commercial property at 9 City Depot Road after an engineering review of Title 5 design flows and the commissions EDU formula.

Chris McClure presented the calculation: the laundromats washers (12 machines) were estimated at 400 gallons per day each, the pizza restaurant was assigned a 1,000-gpd design flow, and a tattoo parlor was equated to a three-chair salon at 100 gpd per chair. Using the commissions multiplier and EDU conversion (0.6 × design flow ÷ 200 gpd per EDU) and $2,447.16 per EDU, McClure arrived at roughly 18.3 EDUs and the $44,783.03 privilege fee. Commissioners discussed fairness and the potential for the fee to be contentious; engineers said the town has adequate supply and the fee is intended to fund capital improvements.

The commission approved the figure and directed staff to notify the property owner and place the matter on next months agenda for the owners options.

Separately, following a high wet-well event at the Vine Street pump station that led to sewage backing up into a nearby cottage, the commission authorized the installation of a backflow preventer at the Ash Road property. The commission discussed contractor options (RSI Construction) and an insurance claim for cleanup (an earlier claim had been denied because the property lacked a backflow device). The motion to install the device passed by unanimous roll call.

Both the privilege-fee approval and the backflow-preventer authorization were taken by recorded roll-call votes with all commissioners voting Aye.