Waterbury’s water utility holds annual meeting Wednesday

July 7, 2020  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

In what’s become typical for 2020, Waterbury village residents have an annual meeting and election on Wednesday that will be conducted using a combination of in-person and online venues. 

The Edward Farrar Utility District -- colloquially referred to as “EFUD” in municipal circles -- is the local government entity created after the village municipality dissolved in 2017. Apropos for a town with “water” in its name, the utility’s primary focus is the operation of the municipal water and wastewater systems that generally serve the geographic area formerly encompassed by the village municipality. 

The annual meeting is much like the annual town meeting in March with a focus on the utility district’s responsibilities. According to Town Clerk Carla Lawrence, 1,540 registered voters are in the district.

This year given the COVID-19 pandemic and public health concerns, local officials are asking residents interested in participating in the meeting to do so remotely, if possible. Residents also have had a chance to vote early by mail-in absentee ballots as well. 

On Wednesday, voting will be available at the municipal offices from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. -- voters will cast their ballots individually with Lawrence with everyone asked to wear a face covering. 

On the paper ballot are names of three candidates running for three of the district’s five seats on its board of commissioners: Lawrence Sayah and Natalie Sherman are running for re-election to one-year terms; incumbent Robert Finucane is on the ballot for a three-year term. All three are unopposed. 

The rest of the items on the annual meeting warning are articles that will be discussed and decided at the actual meeting which begins at 7:30 p.m. Instructions for participating online via Zoom or by telephone are on the meeting warning on the town website. 

The district’s commissioners and others running the meeting will be present for the meeting in the Steele Community Meeting Room at the municipal offices. Local residents who are unable to watch online or call in may attend in person and will be encouraged to adhere to distancing guidelines and wear a face covering. 

The goal is for most to participate from home. “All voters who are able to participate remotely are strongly encouraged to do so,” the meeting warning states. 

The items of business for the evening meeting include deciding compensation for the commissioners for the next year and voting on amounts the utility will borrow for future water and wastewater system improvements. 

Lawrence said results from voting should be available to be announced during the meeting.