Scituate Select Board Backs $13M Water Treatment Plant Funding

Special Town Meeting Set for June 29th to Vote on Crucial Infrastructure Project

SCITUATE, MA - June 4 - The Scituate Select Board unanimously voted to support a $13 million funding request for a new water treatment plant during their meeting on June 4. The funding will be brought before a special town meeting on June 29 at the high school gym.

Town Administrator Jim Boudreau and his team identified $793,000 in capital articles that could be reallocated to the project, along with an additional $200,910 from the DPW director and water superintendent. Solar array revolving funds and stabilization funds were also utilized to reduce the ask from $14 million to $13 million.

"The message was received by the clear after that meeting," Boudreau said. "It was sent out the following morning to all departments asking for their assistance, letting them know the problem and if they had any capital projects which they printed there that could be reallocated."

The advisory committee and capital planning committee both support the article for the upcoming town meeting. Boudreau emphasized the importance of clearly communicating the information to the public and holding informational meetings leading up to the vote.

Select Board member Karen Canfield expressed her hope that all groups who care about Scituate will come out to support the project. "It's really urgent that people come out and support this project," Canfield said. "It's never going to get cheaper. It's only going to get more expensive."

Boudreau and several board members are working with state representatives to secure a 0% interest rate on the entire project, which would reduce the tax impact below previous estimates. They are also exploring additional funding options through ARPA and other sources.

The board authorized Boudreau to offer letters of support for funding on behalf of the board. "I would like to make a motion that we, as a board, support Mister Boudreau offering on behalf of the board support letters for funding on this project," said Select Board Chair Andrew Goodrich.

Despite the significant cost, the board emphasized the necessity of the project and the importance of community support. They plan to hold public meetings and provide clear information to residents in the weeks leading up to the special town meeting.

The water treatment plant project aims to address ongoing water quality issues in Scituate and ensure a reliable, safe water supply for the town's residents and businesses. The Select Board's unanimous support and efforts to secure additional funding demonstrate their commitment to moving forward with this critical infrastructure project.