Littleton accepts $100k grant for sewer study

By Nathan Lamb

Wicked Local Littleton, Thursday, October 21, 2010

The grant was secured by the non-profit Charles River Watershed Association, which will use those funds to underwrite additional consulting for the town, explained association executive director—and Littleton resident—Robert Zimmerman to the Board of Selectmen on Oct. 18. He billed the proposed study as something unique, saying it would provide a comprehensive study that would evaluate everything from project financing to sustainable management of water resources.

“We received a $100,000 grant from an anonymous foundation…that’s very interested in Littleton’s prospects for wastewater, economic growth, smartgrowth, preserving the character of the town—of the litany of things the Selectmen charged the feasibility study committee with,” he said. “With this $100,000, we’d be able to assign our engineering staff…and also hire a third party group, to provide a wealth of options that might otherwise not be available to the committee.”

That proposal was unanimously approved by the Board of Selectmen, with the understanding that the association would meet with local officials to develop a scope-of-services the next day.

“I think this is really great,” said board Chairperson Janet Wilkinson. “I’m especially interested in the economic analysis, which would look at funding, grant programs, community development, economics of operations—I think it’s important for us to have a look at that before we go much further.”

Prior to the vote, town administrator Keith Bergman pointed out that the association’s offer had already been unanimously endorsed by the Littleton Common Sewer Feasibility Study Committee. His expectation was that the grant-funded consultants would supplement the Town Meeting appropriation, saying the grant wasn’t likely to cover things like well-digging and tests.

Zimmerman, who has been involved with the study committee as a citizen-at-large member, anticipated the committee would spend the next month of so compiling information, before the consultants are brought onboard. He listed potential size of the wastewater plant and the potential for the town to generate revenue by producing methane energy as two specifics that would likely be investigated in the short term.

Zimmerman also said he’d resign from the committee if the grant was accepted by the town, saying he didn’t want any appearance of conflict-of-interest. However, Zimmerman said he would remain involved as a consultant.

In other news, the Selectmen were cautioned that the ballot proposal to cut the state sales tax from 6.25 to 3 percent could cost Littleton roughly $494,000 of state aid.

That advisory came from town accountant Bonnie-Mae Holston, who said the Massachusetts Municipal Association is estimating passage of the tax reduction would cost the town $68,000 of state aid, whereas the schools would take a $426,000 hit. 

In the big picture, Holston described the ballot question as one of several unknowns for the Fiscal 2012 budgeting process, which is just getting underway. She said that department heads are being asked to prepare two budgets for the upcoming cycle: one that assumes level-funding (the same amount of dollars as fiscal 2011) and another that assumes level-staffing—which would incorporate anticipated pay increases for town employees.

“It’s no new programming, no changes, just give me what you have there now,” Holston said.

Speaking afterward, Holston said there won’t be a clear picture on which scenario the town can afford until state aid estimates are released in the spring.

Providing some background, Holston said the town received no budgetary increase in 2010, compared to a 3.7 percent increase for the schools. However, she clarified that the school increase was entirely due to increased state aid, saying that allowed the schools to get-by this year without tapping into reserves.

Looking ahead, Holston said the schools anticipate needing an additional $300,000 in the coming year to cover scheduled pay increases and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for employees. Further, she said the schools are budgeting for two new special education students, which are expected to cost the district $100,000 apiece.

Speaking afterward, Holston said the town is facing roughly $35,000 in COLA increases for the coming fiscal year, adding it was unclear what the scheduled pay increases would be.

Even so, Holton anticipated that staffing reductions for at least the police department would be part of any level-funded budget discussion, saying most other line items were already trimmed over the past couple of years.

“I do think there would be some staffing impacts there,” she said.

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