Gilford joins what is expected to be long list of towns opposing giving Laconia greater say over sewer system

GILFORD — The Board of Selectmen this week authorized town administrator Scott Dunn to speak against House Bill 1130 that would weight voting on the advisory board of the Winnipesaukee River Basin (sewer) Program (WRBP) according to the population of the 10 member municipalities when it is heard by the House Public Works and Highways Committee on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 9:30 am.

The WRBP is the sewer system serving Laconia, Belmont, Center Harbor, Franklin, Gilford, Meredith , Moultonborough, Northfield, Sanbornton, and Tilton, whose ratepayers fund its operating budget and capital improvements. Its nearly 60 miles of sewer mains, 12 major pump stations and wastewater treatment plant handle an average of 6.2-million gallons of sewage per day. The system is owned by the state and administered by the Department of Environmental Services (DES), but its operation, maintenance and improvement are funded by the ratepayers of the member municipalities.

Sponsored by Rep. Frank Tilton (R-Laconia) the bill would entitle the member of the advisory board appointed by each municipality to cast one vote for every 500 residents of the municipality. Currently, each of the member municipalities has one vote.

According to the 2010 census, the bill would grant Laconia 32, or 26-percent, of the 123 weighted votes. Franklin would have 17 votes, Belmont 15, Gilford 14, Meredith 12, Northfield 10, Moultonborough 8, Tilton 7, Sanbornton 6 and Center Harbor 2.

Dunn said that he anticipated all nine towns belong to the WRBP would openly oppose the bill. "The bill would pre-empt the efforts of the members of the WRBP to work together to address a number of issues, including governance, in a manner that only serves to benefit Laconia," he said. "It is premature when the group is looking at the bigger picture and collecting more data to address the entire statute governing the WRBP."

Meanwhile, the Laconia City Council, with Councilor Brenda Baer abstaining, voted to support HB 1130 and instructed City Manager Scott Myers to formally communicate its position to Representative Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett), chairman of the House Public Works and Highways Committee. At the same time, the council expressed its trust that Tilton would act in the best interests of the city in responding to any amendments to the bill that might be offered.

In September, the advisory board of WRBP asked Tilton to withdraw the bill, which it feared would disrupt several initiatives to restructure the administration and operation of the WRBP. The board explained that together with DES the WRBP has embarked on a flow metering program, which would provide data on the usage of each municipality to support a revision of the formula for allocating costs among them. The board also noted that the member municipalities are negotiating a memorandum of understanding with DES to govern the budgeting of the program, introduce a capital improvements program, adjust the formula for allocating costs and reconsider the governance of the WRBP.

Tilton, former head of the Public Works Department in Laconia, declined to drop the bill, which he recently called "my favorite."