Despite securing voter approval and funding, the water main extension project to serve homes in Mulberry Point, Tuttles Point, and Long Cove has been forced to jump through a number of unexpected state permitting hoops. While Health Director Dennis Johnson had said earlier this summer he thought he had filled out just about every permit the state has, be was back before the Board of Selectmen (BOS) on Sept. 4 asking for another contract amendment to allow for additional state-required work.

Johnson came before the board asking for an amendment to the contract with engineering and construction management team Wright-Pierce for $35,644. Johnson said the amendment is to cover the additional cost for an archaeological survey required by the state.

The water main extension is expected to stretch over 2.4 miles and cost approximately $3.4 million, which includes about $300,000 in a contingency fund, which will be tapped to cover the unanticipated costs such as this survey.

“We kind of were told in the 11th hour from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) that after they had reviewed the plans that there are a couple historical archaeological sites along this route near Marshall Avenue and Tuttles Point, which we were not aware of,” he said.

While the addition required town approval, the project will be paid by homeowners receiving water service through the project and by the Connecticut Water Company. Johnson said the additional costs will be rolled into the homeowner assessments and don’t even approach exceeding the $300,000 contingency built into the project even though this is now the third amendment to the contract.

Johnson said the project requires a survey because some of the project funding is state and federal money.

“As with any type of digging that is funded by federal or state money, they want to make certain there are not any interruptions or disruptions of archaeological sites, so they requested that we hire a consultant to do an archaeological reconnaissance survey and then also monitor construction as a trench is dug down the street to look for any artifacts,” he said.

Johnson said he got a reasonable bid from a Guilford company called Archeaological Consulting Services to do the work. Johnson said the survey has two parts. The first part requires the consultant to go and dig some test pits in an undeveloped area of the project worksite and the second part is worked into the construction process.

“Phase two is when the archaeologist actually accompanies the contractor and the construction crew,” he said. “They look at it [the earth] as it’s being uncovered, seeing if any artifacts or bones pop up, and then if they do, they have to remove the artifacts respectfully and have them sent to the appropriate tribe once they determine who they belong to.”

Selectmen asked if this type of survey request is normal, but the town attorney said the request was reviewed and is valid.

“Many state agencies have reviewed our plans like Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and I guess SHPO [the State Historic Preservation Office] is one of those agencies,” said Johnson. “I guess the fact that it is federal clean water money that it triggered their review of it. They generally review construction projects where there is a past inventory of archaeological findings and no one was really aware of it in this area. I don’t know how long ago they found these sites, but there are a couple of them down there.”

Selectmen also expressed concern over if the discovery of any artifacts would greatly delay the project timeline. Johnson said a big delay is unlikely.

“It wouldn’t stop the project for more than probably a week or so because the site would probably be rather minor and they could gather the artifacts and send them off,” he said. “Its not like you are finding a large cemetery or something.”

The BOS unanimously approved the amendment to the contract.

Project Details

The water main extension project was approved at referendum on May 31, 2017, with 1,004 “Yes” votes to 122 “No” votes. Prior to the referendum, the town announced that, of the 145 homes in the area that could be served by the water main—which includes Mulberry Point, Tuttles Point, and Long Cove—83 percent of residents signed formal commitment letters to connect with the main, well exceeding the necessary commitment level and pushing the project forward.

Residents in the service area will pay all expenses for the project, including initial soft costs. In January, the town signed a service agreement with the Connecticut Water Company (CWC) that outlined the financial rate of contribution from CWC. The rate of contribution from CWC is dependent upon the percentage of the 145 homeowners in the area who commit to the project. With an 83 percent commitment rate demonstrated by residents who sent the water company signed commitment letters and financial deposits, CWC will contribute $1.5 million.

After CWC’s contribution, the remaining cost of the project, $1.9 million, will not be distributed town-wide, but will be paid by homeowners who are direct beneficiaries of the water main extension. The town has applied for Drinking Water Revolving Funds, a low-interest loan from the State of Connecticut that in 2012 became available for the project, contingent upon a successful referendum. With the 83 percent contribution rate, Attorney Norb Church said each household will likely be assessed for approximately $13,161, which can be paid back over 20 years at a two percent interest rate.