Monday night, the Representative Town Meeting approved a $2.7 million project to install sewer lines at Harrison’s Landing.

The project is the last planned large sewer extension by the town, Utility Commission Chief Engineer Neftali Soto said. The new sewer lines will serve 40 homes in Harrison’s Landing, many of which have failing septic systems, Utility Commission Assistant Director James Bartelli said.

Of the 27 homes closest to the Thames River in Harrison's Landing, 13 have failing septic systems, Bartelli said. While the DEEP has not yet mandated the town to install a sewer line, they could if the town doesn’t do it voluntarily, Town Attorney Rob Avena said.

Who Should Pay?

RTM member Theodore Olynciw argued that the benefit assessment should be higher on the homes in Harrison’s Landing to pay more of the $2.7 million cost. Olynciw argued a home connected to a sewer line is worth $10,000 to $15,000 more than one with a septic system, and the town is only charging the residents a $4,500 to $6,000 benefit assessment, according to Bartelli.

“Here they give us ($4,500) and we'll give them $15,000,” Olynciw said. “That's crazy."

Other RTM members disagreed. Waterford residents have been paying benefit assessments on the same scale for years, Soto said.

“What isn’t fair is if we change our minds and say you pay this much,” RTM member Brendan McGurik said. “They should pay their fair share like everybody else did.”

Instead, the money will come out of capital improvement funds, and won’t directly increase taxes next year.

The project will begin in 15 days, and by contract must be completed in 300 days after that, Bartelli said. The RTM passed the project 15-0 , with Olynciw and Janet Smith abstaining.