City council supports management transition of regional wastewater authority

LACONIA — The advisory board of the regional wastewater system earned the support of city council Aug. 24, for a new proposal to transition ownership and management from the NH Department of Environmental Services to a regional authority,

Council unanimously voted to support the transition, and to authorize councilors, the city manager, and city staff to show support and advocate for the transition to state representatives and senators.

The Winnipesaukee River Basin Program Advisory Board, led by Chair Wes Anderson, the city's planning project manager, asked all 10 member communities to support the transition. There is a maintenance facility on Water Street in Laconia, and the main WRBP treatment facility is on River Street in Franklin.

The 10 member communities are Laconia, Belmont, Franklin, Gilford, Meredith, Northfield, Sanbornton, Tilton, and portions of Center Harbor and Moultonborough, represented by the Bay District Sewer Commission.

“I would just like to point out that Gilford, and many of the other communities that are involved in this, have already approved this, and I think it’s a good step forward,” said Councilor Jon Hildreth (Ward 1). 

Anderson said most other member communities have voted to continue with the transition. In Tilton, the sewer commission voted "no," but the selectboard voted "yes." The Bay District Sewer Commission will vote on Monday, Sept. 7.

One representative from each member community will be selected to make up the WRBP Advisory Board.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) signed SB 592 into law on July 15, creating a study commission to examine the transition of the WRBP from state control to local authorities. The commission is made up of Sen. Mark McConkey (R-Freedom), representing Moultonborough and appointed by Senate President Sharon Carson; three state representatives appointed by Speaker Sherm Packard: Brian Taylor (R-Moultonborough), David Nagel (D-Gilmanton), and Mike Bordes (R-Laconia), the commissioner of NH DES or a designee; Mark Borrin from the Bay District, chosen by the WRBP Advisory Committee; and Rich McNeil of Laconia, appointed by Bordes, who also serves as Laconia's mayor.

“The Department of Environmental Services is truly a regulating agency, and they're regulating themselves. Plus, they are underneath the statutes and policies and procedures for the state personnel,” Anderson said.

Thus, Anderson said, the department is having a tough time keeping up with competitive salaries for employees working in the same type of wastewater treatment systems elsewhere.

“Plus, it also enables us to use municipal contracting procedures, which may give us a benefit in regards to costs of construction and for other types of contracts,” Anderson said.

Many member communities are eager for the transition to local control, to confront issues like outdated infrastructure and management problems.

The first meeting of the study commission will be held on Monday, Sept. 14. Anderson said the commission will discuss what they think needs to be outlined in the transition plans.

“Any changes or any documents for that will then go into the state process, for a proposed law or a proposed amendment to an existing law, to then being able to enable the transition process,” Anderson said.

Anderson said for the legislative portion, if everyone is in agreement on the transition and plans, a vote will be taken around March or April 2027. Then, it will be up to Ayotte to sign the document and get the transition rolling.

Although Anderson said the transition will depend on what the study commission and Legislature think needs to be included, WRBP Advisory Board members think the transition will take one to two years, after legislation is finalized.

“The key is getting the study commission organized, and doing all the presentations to them, so that we've got what things they're thinking of, as well as what things we think needs to be in the legislation,” Anderson said.