Hampden looks at annexing water district

HAMPDEN – Town councilors’ frustrations mounted Monday night when a proposed water rate increase was discussed, resulting in a vote for the town to investigate annexing the water district.

Councilors voted unanimously to research the legal protocol and economic feasibility of enveloping the Hampden Water District into the municipal department structure. At present, the district is a separate entity with a general manager and board of trustees.

In addition, the council asked Town Manager Sue Lessard to contact the Maine Public Utilities Commission to see what action the town could take if councilors remain unsatisfied after a district board meeting Thursday night, to which councilors have been invited.

“Every rate increase we talk about [annexing], and I think it would be worth our investment in legal services to see this through,” said Councilor Tom Brann.

The Hampden Water District has proposed an 18.26 percent rate increase to go into effect Jan. 1, 2008. Water district officials have said the cost of copper piping and additional water quality sampling combined with the ripple effect from the Bangor Water District’s price hike have caused the increase. Bangor supplies Hampden’s water. The rate increase will be forwarded to the state PUC for consideration.

In September, General Manager Cameron Torrey said an average household uses about 2,000 cubic feet of water a quarter. Under the current fee structure the bill would be $98.80, but after the increase it would come in at $116.87.

Two councilors, Ed Murphy and Andrew Colford, attended the district’s public hearing at the beginning of the month and said they did not feel their voices were heard.

“I felt like I was speaking to a wall at the meeting,” Colford said. “I feel like the decision [has] already been made.”

The council invited water district representatives to attend Monday’s meeting, but a letter of regret was sent instead, stating that no board members would be able to attend. In the letter, though, Torrey invited councilors to the board’s Thursday meeting.

“I think they should be much more responsive,” said Brann. “It’s hard for me to believe that nobody from the water district or board could respond to one-third of their client base.”

Lessard explained that the town of Hampden, between hydrant fees and water consumption, represents one-third of the water district’s client base.

Among the many issues raised, councilors were alarmed by a proposed $400,000 increase in salaries. The additional funding is for one full-time and one part-time position, and employee raises for three years, Lessard said.

Councilors felt the salary increases were too exorbitant.

“I’m concerned over the level of animosity or discord this could create,” Lessard said. You “should be able to look at this as a community. You, water district trustees and council, all are elected to do the same thing, figure out what the best [thing] is for the community.”

Also at the meeting:

. Councilors tabled a request from Alex and Darla King for a temporary easement on Ichabod Lane. The easement would have provided temporary vehicular access to the King property by town land. Residents who abut the town property were present to pose questions about the easement and the implication that it might lead to a future subdivision.