The Elm Street project is a comprehensive infrastructure improvement plan poised to overhaul the area’s water and sewer systems. It proposes the installation of 6700 feet of 8-inch gravity sewer pipe, a wastewater pump station, and 4500 linear feet of water main improvements. The project’s funding includes grants from Mass Works and the economic development bill. The commission has successfully secured a $3.5 million construction grant and submitted an article for the town meeting warrant requesting an additional $8.6 million.

Budget estimates for the Elm Street initiative set the water main work between $2 and $2.3 million and the sewer work between $5.6 and $6.3 million. The commission aims to defray costs through the grant, increases in water rates, and sewer betterments. To cover the remaining costs, strategies include assessing the Reen Barton property, attaching the debt to said property, or allocating a portion of future taxes from the developed property.

During the meeting, there was considerable discussion on the location and routing of the pump station and force main—critical factors influencing the project’s financial and logistical planning. The commission deliberated on the project’s impact on the tax rate and the overall benefits to the town, exploring options to recover the remaining share of the costs.

Additionally, the commission addressed the implementation of a water filling station, described as a “second-best option,” noting the need for supervision during the filling process. The possibility of enlisting individuals from the Council of the Aging for this role was debated. Updates on water quality were presented, including improvements noted in quarterly samples and flushing programs. The Outpost Farm water connections, another significant infrastructure update, received final approval, with the project’s progression contingent on the sale of the property and the buyer’s decision.

The proposed development project by DNL Design Group was also a point of focus. The project, consisting of four duplex lots with a common drive, was approved with the condition that a full set of reviewed plans be submitted. Further discussions included generator replacements, meter installations, and the decommissioning of the treatment plant at Norton Public Schools. The commission considered both short-term and long-term solutions, with talks of retrofitting the system to Title 5 or connecting it to the sewer, as well as establishing a pump station in the area.

Another topic of interest was the construction plans for Elm Street and Reservoir Street, with notable concerns about the impact on traffic and the necessity of public outreach. The potential replacement of the Rumford Road Pump Station to support additional flow from Elm Street was deliberated. The commission also examined the implications of a development project on Zero Reservoir Street, addressing the need for gravity sewer extensions and their costs.

The commission probed into a proposed sewer line extension’s financial feasibility. A property owner appealed for value engineering to make the project more cost-effective. Plans to meet with the property owner to discuss cost estimates and alternatives were made. The commission also contemplated reducing the number of units in the development to improve project viability.

The meeting was not without its challenges, which included moments of confusion and technical difficulties, such as issues with a PowerPoint presentation and a member’s microphone malfunction. However, despite these setbacks, the commission maintained its focus on the key infrastructural projects and their long-term implications for the community.