Saugus to target pumping scofflaws

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen is pondering how to deal with scofflaws that still have not removed illegal sump pumps from their homes.Paul Ross of Camp Dresser McKee told the selectmen Thursday that about 75 percent of the first phase of a massive town-wide sewer rehabilitation project is complete.Part of the project includes residents removing or legalizing illicit sump pumps, but not everyone is stepping up.The work is part of the consent order handed down by the Department of Environmental Protection in 2004. The project includes rehabbing 27,000 feet of sewer pipe, approximately 400 service connections and several hundred manholes.The goal of the project is to cut the inflow-and-infiltration of clean water into the sewer system, which would result in less sewage flowing to the Lynn treatment plant. That in turn will result in lower bills to homeowners.Ross pointed out that to make the project work, residents have to comply and, thus far, only about 63 percent of residents have in the Phase 1 area, which includes about 400 homes in the Route 1-Route 99-Essex Street area.Ross said the town would spend millions of dollars on a 10-year project that will all be for naught if homeowners aren’t forced to do their part.He also warned selectmen that if they don’t do something to try and force the residents’ cooperation, it would not set a good precedent for the rest of the town.”A lot of people who did call us,” Ross said, “said they didn’t believe the town would do anything (about illegal pumps). If word gets out that the town won’t do anything, then the next nine years is already a failure.”Residents were told in August they would need to remove illegal sump pumps or make them legal in the next 90 days.The pumps had been discovered during earlier inspections. Ross explained that each homeowner was given 90 days to correct the pump situation and schedule a second inspection.He said reminder letters also went out to residents but by the end of December approximately 26 properties had made no contact at all.Selectman Michael Kelleher asked if it was possible that the delinquent homeowners actually addressed the pump issue but failed to notify the town.Ross said it was possible, but doubtful.After George Hailer, the town’s environmental attorney, suggested the board discuss strategy possibilities, it retired to an executive session.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said Friday it was decided the board’s first step would be to send the negligent residents another letter and proceed from there.