Sewer Comission Meeting — August 20, 2026

The Swansea Board of Sewer Commissioners met on August 20, 2026, to address grant funding, ongoing construction along the Route 6 sewer corridor, and utility impact fees, followed by extended public comment regarding sewer betterment assessments. The board approved Joshua Robinson and William Anderson as signing authorities for federal fiscal year 2027 and approved several past sets of open and executive session meeting minutes. Derek Hopkins, project manager for Wright-Pierce, delivered an update on grant applications, highlighting a $1,092,000 award for FY26 congressional direct spending, approval from the EPA to reprogram leftover FY24 funds to the Gardner's Neck Road work, and pending $5 million applications for both the MassWorks Infrastructure Program and FY27 congressional spending.

Hopkins also reported on sewer construction progress, noting that sewer installation at the Gardner's Neck intersection was complete, testing at the Route 118 intersection was finished, and contractor C. Naughton had successfully connected mainline piping from the RK Plaza pump station to Route 118. In business items, the board voted unanimously to set the system impact fee at $10,000 per bedroom unit (equivalent to 110 gallons per day) to account for properties expanding their wastewater flow beyond initial Title 5 design estimates. The board also reaffirmed that utility-owned parcels held by AT&T and National Grid would remain assessed at 1.8 and 3 Equivalent Billing Units (EBUs), respectively.

During the public comment period, several local business owners expressed concerns regarding recently mailed estimated sewer betterment charges. Victor Reese, owner of Happy Feet Preschool at 457 Milford Road, and Andre Coelho, owner of Carpets Plus Color Tile at 650 GAR Highway, questioned assessments calculated on Title 5 design flow rather than actual water usage. Robert Mullen, owner of Mullen Brothers Jewelry on Swansea Mall Drive, voiced frustration over a betterment assessment exceeding $36,000. Commissioners clarified that the assessments are preliminary estimates subject to reduction as state and federal grants are secured, and explained that property owners may apply for variances or finance betterments through 20-year town loans at 4.5% interest.

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