WILTON — A proposed budget of $294,433 for the wastewater treatment plant was recently approved by the Board of Selectmen.

The amount for fiscal year 2014-2015 represents an increase of $24,874 over the 2013-2014 amount spent, Superintendent Clayton Putnam told the board.

The repair of a broken shaft in machinery designed to remove pollutants from wastewater has been completed at a cost of $31,390, he said.

Without the repair, the budget may have come in about $6,000 less, he said.

“The budget is need based,” he said. “There’s no fluff in the budget.” 

Putnam requested the shaft repair in May, although the rotating biological contractors, known as RBCs, are expected to be replaced during phase two of the treatment plant renovation. If nothing had been done and another shaft went, the plant could have been in violation of state rules, he previously said.

The design work on phase two continues with the project going out to bid this fall. Putnam does not foresee any major work done until next spring, but there will be a full construction season.

“We had hoped to be in construction now,” he said.

Phase two consists of work on the plant. Phase one included renovation of 30 pump stations and work on a portion of the plant.

Selectmen asked about the second rate increase for customers.

“People need to realize they are going to see an increase,” Selectman Tom Saviello said of what could amount to a potential increase of $200 a year.

Voters agreed at town meeting in 2011 to upgrade the aging, 33-year-old wastewater treatment plant. The approximate 900 customers realized an increase from debt on phase 1, Putnam said. A minimal user’s bill went from $64 to $104, he said of the first rate increase since 1987.

Putnam’s recommendation is for the next rate increase to start in January 2018.

Some board members questioned making smaller increases to help customers adjust to the higher amount.

The board also inquired when the department would look to the town for another contribution on the debt. The town approved giving $30,000 to the renovation debt in 2012.

The department would look for the town donation for year 2016-2017, he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com