SAUGUS — The Board of Selectmen voted on the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Interim Loan at its recent meeting.
Finance Director and Treasurer/Collector Wendy Hatch gave a presentation at the meeting stating, “I’m here this evening seeking your approval on an interim loan, zero interest, 20-year, interim loan… The identified sewer project is subsystem 2. Part of the consent order that we operated under years ago, we identified many areas in town that required the reduction of sewer inflow and infiltration,” Hatch said.
She noted that the DPW continues to move forward in each of the sections and replace infrastructure as necessary to maintain the asset for the town.
“Generally speaking, the vicinity of subsystem 2 is located in the vicinity of the Saugus River neighborhoods in between Elm Street and Auburn Street, including Appleton (Street), McIntyre Road, Hull Drive, Hargraves Court, Ivy Street, Bridge Street, Lothrop Street, Hamilton Street, and Riverbank Road,” she said.
Hatch said the construction includes the rehabilitation of pipelines, manholes, and service lines necessary to eliminate inflow and infiltration in the system.
As of right now, approximately 7,600 feet of eight-inch, 200 feet of 10-inch, and 4,650 feet of 24-inch pipe have been identified and will have in-place lining done to them.
“They don’t replace them, they reline them,” Hatch said.
Approximately 160 mainline connections have been identified, and 60 manholes as well.
“The budget for the project and the approved loan amount is $2,330,234,” she said.
Once construction is completed and the Clean Water Trust issues the permanent loan, it could be for a lesser amount, depending on whether the bids come in lower and the cost of the construction is lower, according to Hatch.
After Hatch’s presentation, Board Chair Debra Panetta asked how many subsystems are in the town, to which Hatch responded she was unsure, but that Town Manager Scott Crabtree may know the answer.
Crabtree said there may be 14 plus.
“They had to identify the top, I think, nine originally,” he said.
Selectman Michael Serino said he believes there are 26.
“When they did the study, they identified the ten worst places, and that’s what we were mandated to do under the consent order… And so we’ve worked off of that, but there were still all these other substations that have… similar issues. No, we’re continuing to do that,” Crabtree said.
He noted that the town was being much more proactive and pointed out the support coming from the Selectmen.
Panetta asked when the work would begin and how long it would take to be completed.
“I believe the work is beginning or has begun. I believe that this loan has to close for permanent financing by the fall,” Hatch said.
Crabtree said the project is a whole process with one year, including design work, approval, temporary loans or money already allocated, and then the bid goes out to get the work done.
The Board unanimously voted yes to approve the loan.
