The meeting prioritized discussion on amendments to the town’s water rules and regulations, specifically targeting households with irrigation systems lacking separate meters. The board unanimously approved new measures to bolster compliance with existing irrigation regulations. These changes include a novel daily fine structure, which seeks to address long-standing enforcement challenges. The revised regulations now mandate a $300 fine per day for continued non-compliance following a 30-day grace period post-notification. This decision stems from the perceived ineffectiveness of the previous fine structure, which began with a written warning and escalated to $200 for subsequent violations. Public Works Director Rob Philly articulated that this prior framework was insufficient, as the fines were often less costly than installing a mandated second meter.

The board’s deliberations emphasized the necessity of a robust enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance and promote equitable water use. The discussion also touched on the language of the regulations, debating the practicality of using certified mail for notifications due to its cost and logistical challenges. Suggestions were made to simplify communication by utilizing regular mail instead. Additionally, board members explored the implications of using “may” versus “shall” in the context of enforcing fines and initiating legal action, with some advocating for flexibility to account for extenuating circumstances affecting homeowners’ compliance.

Residents took an active role in the meeting, with several voicing their concerns about the town’s approach to managing non-compliant irrigation systems. One resident highlighted the town’s leniency over the past years, urging the board to impose retroactive fines on property owners who have ignored registration mandates. Another resident, Nicole Stern, criticized the proposed amendments as inadequate, emphasizing the need for immediate and stronger enforcement actions. Stern proposed issuing warning letters with a 30-day compliance window before implementing daily fines, urging the board to demand transparency in the number of non-compliant properties and fines collected since the regulations’ inception.

Margaret Brolino, a compliant resident, questioned the urgency of implementing the proposed 80% to 20% water usage split between irrigation and household use, given the town’s current incapacity to enforce such billing. She suggested charging the full rate for irrigation water until the town resolves its capability issues. Conversely, Daniel D. Pompei, another resident, cautioned against penalizing all water system users by raising rates due to the failures of those with unregistered systems, advocating instead for targeting violators directly.

Amid these public concerns, the Select Board discussed evaluating the effectiveness of the new measures by early November. The board recognized the need to address residents’ grievances while considering the financial implications for compliant property owners. Ultimately, a motion to adopt the staff’s recommendations—encompassing the revised penalty language and the potential implementation of a split rate for households without a separate irrigation meter—was passed unanimously.