Utility district vote attracts little public participation

May 16, 2021 | By Lisa Scagliotti

In the three years since the Edward Farrar Utility District was formed to succeed the Waterbury Village municipality, the largest number of voters turned out this week to cast ballots in its annual election. The total: 21 voters; 11 voting in person and 10 who requested early ballots by mail. 

That’s an increase of more than 23% over the 17 who voted last year. The first year had just 16 voters. The tallies were recorded by Town and District Clerk Carla Lawrence.

Workers dig up lower Stowe Street to replace a water line in late fall 2020. Crews now will complete a sewer line upgrade, replace the road base, and install a new curb and sidewalk. File photo by Gordon Miller

Approximately 1,600 voters who live in the area of the former village are eligible to vote in the utility district elections, Lawrence said. 

The district manages the operations of the water and sewer departments with some residual functions associated with property formerly owned by the village government that dissolved in 2018. 

All questions were approved overwhelmingly and all three of the commissioners who ran were re-elected as they had no opposition. Lawrence “Lefty” Sayah and P. Howard “Skip” Flanders each received 19 votes; Natalie Sherman received 20. The trio also served as village trustees in the former government. 

The board of commissioners has two other members who were not up for re-election this year, Bob Finucane and Cynthia Parks. 

Voters approved 19-1 paying commissioners for the following year. The chair of the board of commissioners will receive $1,450 and other members will be paid $1,200. Flanders has served as chair previously. 

The vote was also 19-1 to budget $20,150 for the general and property management fund. Voters unanimously approved the sums proposed to borrow for improvements to the water system ($500,000) and for the sewer system ($250,000).  

In 2020, the district took steps to reduce service fees to assist business and residential customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The district also oversees a revolving business loan fund for which required payments and interest calculations were suspended due to the public health crisis. 

Projects this year include replacement of a sewer line on lower Stowe Street following a water line replacement last fall there; a water line project along Route 100 is also planned to upgrade service in that corridor. Some repairs and maintenance are planned at the building at Rusty Parker Memorial Park that houses the performance stage.  

The district’s Board of Commissioners meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m.