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Need to Know the Truth

Hopefully, Old Saybrook voters read the article in the Sept. 21 edition of Harbor News about Westbrook receiving a cost estimate of $12 to $13 million to construct a wastewater system in downtown Westbrook ("Town Receives Cost Estimate for Downtown Septic System"). Town leaders there have $1 million in ARPA funding allocated for the project.

The Town of Old Saybrook, in the 2020 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), noted on page 23 that an action to be taken was “Wastewater Options – Allow off-site disposal for the Town Center business area.” This same plan had a priority action item of finding long-term solutions for neighborhood-scale wastewater management. This plan was updated in 2023. Have the problems been fixed? Has any money been budgeted?

In 2021, the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) canceled eight regular meetings. Maybe the wastewater problem was solved? Wait, they met on June 14. The agenda was mostly routine except for the executive session, which was to “discuss strategy and negotiations with respect to pending claims and pending litigation regarding Second Modified Judgement in accordance with stipulation of Jan 10. 2011.” What is that all about?

In the years 2022 and 2023, the WPCA canceled eight additional regular meetings and posted no special meetings. The newly adopted POCD, dated July 19, 2023, has the same basic priority for community wastewater management solutions as in 2022.

Many voters in Old Saybrook would like the Republican leadership to detail the actions being implemented to solve the wastewater problems in town rather than praising the previous plans calling for action. Is the rumor true that a pilot project is under consideration to build a small community wastewater treatment facility with the effluence being piped under the fields at the high school? Voters need to know the truth.

Carol Manning

Old Saybrook