Town officials prepare to cope with increase in Fitchburg sewer rates
By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

Increased sewer rates in Fitchburg means the residents of Westminster will also experience an increased rate.

"When theirs goes up, ours goes up as well," said Alan Bedard, chairman of the Public Works Commission.

This week, city councilors in Fitchburg voted to increase sewer rate fees by 85 cents per unit.

Westminster residents pay to send their sewerage to the Fitchburg site. According to Bedard that sewer bill is tied into residents' water bills.

Residents are billed twice a year, a flat rate of $75 for a minimum of 20,000 gallons. They then pay an additional $5 for every 1,000 gallons over this amount used.

Bedard said, as of Wednesday, town officials had not received notice from Fitchburg officials yet about the potential increase.

According to Bedard, the last time rates were increased in Fitchburg, the two towns were working on another agreement, so the increase was blended in with that.

Jordan agreed they have not specifically spoken with Westminster officials.

Bedard said they will most likely have to increase the rate in town, but was not sure.

"I guess it will give us something to talk about next Tuesday at our meeting," said Bedard.

He mentioned that water rates are about to increase in town, so wastewater rates will have to go up as well. According to Bedard they are waiting for a water rate study to be released, most likely in July, before they figure out the new rates.

Starting July 1, wastewater rates in Fitchburg will increase 85 cents per unit. Deputy Wastewater Commissioner Joseph Jordan said one unit in Fitchburg is about 750 gallons.

Under the contract Westminster has with Fitchburg, when the rate goes up in Fitchburg, it goes up the same amount in Westminster, according to Jordan.

City officials in Fitchburg estimate this will cost the average family in the city an additional $112 per year.

The increase was approved by the Fitchburg City Councilors after they previously voted down a 95-cent increase proposed by Mayor Dan Mylott, twice. This week, the mayor unveiled a new plan that would reduce the increase to 85 cents per unit.

The increase is needed to pay a $655,000 deficit that was accrued in the Wastewater Enterprise Fund in fiscal year 2006. If this money did not come from increased rates, Mylott told Fitchburg residents it would come from the city's general fund account.