In the next two years, Trumbull leaders will have to manage ongoing sewer construction projects, oversee the potential development of the 20-acre parcel expected to be acquired from Bridgeport, and address the looming issue of sewer regionalization. The two candidates, Republican incumbent Tim Herbst and Democratic challenger Mary Beth Thornton shared their game plans.
Oversight of Mark IV Construction Projects
Herbst said his administration is continuing to address identified defects, but “the process takes time and has been longer than I or any other member of my administration would like.” The identified issues will be resolved either through a resolution between the town and construction company Mark IV or through litigation, he said.
Had there been proper oversight on Contract 3, the Jog Hill project, the town likely would not have had $2.5 million worth of change orders and the $3.5 million no-bid contract extension would have been more closely scrutinized, Herbst said. The oversight the firm Tighe & Bond has provided for Contract 4 has already saved the town $1 million, he said.
As far as residents’ concerns over road paving, Herbst said he cannot condone roadwork over what the experts advise him is defective work. “I understand that this is frustrating, but it is better to wait and get the sewers fixed before we pave than to pave, dig up and put in patches that are likely to fail after the fact,” Herbst said.
Thornton said she would want to reassess the deficits because she questioned the accuracy of the report prepared by Tighe & Bond. She would also examine whether raising Jog Hill assessments could help cover the costs of those deficits.
“I believe we are paying too much for third party oversight and I would hire qualified engineers to oversee the project,” Thornton said. The town engineers would then have historical knowledge of the sewers to continue oversight for years to come, she said.
magnet school boundary change
Thornton said the first thing she would do is work with Bridgeport and state officials to mend broken fences.
“Right now, our relationship with Bridgeport is deteriorating,” Thornton said. “Even after the land swap, Tim brought forward a frivolous lawsuit.”
Thornton was referring to Herbst’s filing for intervenor status to ensure Trumbull would legally have a seat at the table in any discussions involving the 20-acre parcel it is slated to receive in return for giving land to Bridgeport to build an interdistrict magnet school.
Thornton said she would immediately drop the lawsuit because it is frivolous and costing the town legal fees. She said the 20-acre parcel Trumbull may acquire is likely contaminated and because the state would likely require remediation before the town could use it, the land will be difficult to develop. She also said she doubted the building on the parcel has much value. “I’m discounting that as an asset,” she said.
Herbst said the purpose of the appeal is to protect the town’s legal interests and the residents living nearby. The terms of the border change agreement essentially took away the Trumbull land use boards’ control, Herbst said. If successful, the appeal would allow the town to negotiate and advocate for residents’ environmental concerns and allow blasting concerns to be addressed.
Sewer regionalization
Trumbull currently has a contract with Bridgeport for the city to process its sewage at its treatment facility. That contract is scheduled to expire in 2012, and the town will have to reassess its sewage treatment options.
“Our options are definitely limited,” Thornton said.
Thornton said ideally, Trumbull could renegotiate an agreement with Bridgeport or enter into a sewer authority with Bridgeport and Monroe. Whatever agreement is negotiated, Thornton said it has to benefit the town.
Thornton said she has talked to officials in cities that have already regionalized, including New Haven and Stamford. Each region has a very different plan, and Trumbull can benefit from adopting the facets of each that have proved most successful, she said.
After Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch reneged on his promise to work with Trumbull to give the town the building on the 20-acre parcel, officials should be on heightened alert in future negotiations with his administration, Herbst said. Both Herbst and Thornton agreed that building a sewage treatment plant in Trumbull is not a viable option. Herbst said the town has three main options: renegotiate a deal with Bridgeport, enter a regional authority with Bridgeport and Monroe or enter into a regional authority with Stratford.
Bridgeport has to update its outdated sewer infrastructure at a cost of up to $1 billion that will be passed onto ratepayers. Herbst said renegotiating a contract would probably mean even higher sewer fees for users, who already pay one of the highest rates in the state.
He said he would only entertain working with Bridgeport if the city agrees to segment the infrastructure debt to city residents only, as New Haven did when it upgraded its systems.
“At this point, my preference would be to regionalize with Stratford” because the cost of tying in would be less than tying in with the city, Herbst said. Also, Stratford’s sewer rates are relatively stable, Herbst said.
By Vinti Singh
Reprinted from “The Connecticut Post” © Copyright 2011
Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Trumbull-candidates-offer-views-on-top-issues-2231894.php#ixzz1bZhjlL3e