Sewer Rate Increases by 12 Cents

Wearing their Sewer Commissioner hats, the Andover Board of Selectmen voted to approve a sewer rate increase last week caused by a general increase in costs in the sewer department.

The board voted 3-2, with Alex Vispoli and Paul Salafia opposed, to increase the sewer rate from $3.09 per 10 cubic feet of water to $3.21 per cubic feet of water. The board had to officially vote to enter the meeting as sewer commissioners.

Vispoli said that he feels that budgets should not be made with the idea that selectmen will have to take a special vote to increase rates after they had been set at Town Meeting.

Costs of the sewer operations have continued to rise, with some areas, such as debt service or a sewer assessment, outside of the control of town management officials. Out of the $6 million sewer budget, roughly $1 million is represented by variable costs that can adjusted to make the department more sustainable, according to Vispoli.

Vispoli said that this would be the 8th sewer rate increase in recent years and feels that it should not be done until the town has created a firm plan to make the sewer department sustainable.

“I personally would like to see us have a plan. I’d like to think that we could cut back more,” said Vispoli.

Selectman Mary Lyman agreed that nobody likes to increase the sewer rates but it is something that needs to be done in a self-sustaining department, which means that it is funded through its own fees and not the general town coffers.  

“I don’t think it’s any one's error of where we are,” said Lyman.

The 12 cent increase represents a 3.8 percent increase in the previous sewer rate of $3.09. The rate increase goes into effect on July, 1.