The Elementary School Building Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to partially fund a sewer capacity engineering study requested by the Department of Public Works. The approved not-to-exceed total is $23,000.

ESBC chair Jon Graziano explained that DPW director Kerry Reed wants to look at the area serviced by the Hayden Rowe pump station. The town did a study that provided “light” results, but the DPW wants to do another study that dives deeper, he said.

The intent is to find out what needs to be done to ensure the station continues to provide adequate service, including for the new Charleswood School.

Graziano acknowledged the new school will change capacity, but he added, “It is by no means the only challenge they are facing right now.”

He reported meeting with Reed along with ESBC member Mike Shepard last week.

“We heard about issues they are having with stormwater to the system that were impacting capacity,” Graziano said. “It’s clear that something needs to be done overall.”

He said it is important work be conducted before the school opens because of the effect Charleswood School will have on the system.

Graziano said the DPW director procured a quote for an engineering study showing what can be done “short-, medium- and long-term to mitigate any issues with the sewer in and around Hayden Rowe pump station to ensure it remains fully operational.” The quote was $46,000 and not offered by the conductors of the initial study.

Reed asked for financial support for the study, Graziano noted, saying that the town would come up with the rest of the money.

The ESBC chair said it was emphasized that payment for any subsequent work would need to be procured and funded outside of the school project.

“We’re not in a position to consider anything larger than this,” Graziano said.

Shepard noted the ESBC had provided funding for engineering for the Hayden Rowe Street roadwork because the Charleswood School is part of the road.

He said his concern is if the committee does nothing regarding the pump station, the treatment plant won’t be able to handle the additional capacity of 6,000 gallons per day from Charleswood School.

“It’s a lot,” Shepard noted. “I’m the chief son of a gun who said perhaps we could come to [this] committee and fund half the number.”

Continued Shepard: “We made clear anything that has to be done if they find a problem will have to go to Town Meeting and be appropriated the other way. This is the end of the road.”

He added that Reed was forthcoming that the town is having issues now, and there is a fear the problems will get worse with the school coming online, and it will be too late to fix.

Vertex project manager Chris Kenney reiterated funding for the study was “a stand-alone offer to get positioned and isn’t something we’ll be saddled with. … We’ll be busy focused on the roadway and getting the school ready.”

Timing concerns expressed

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Susan Rothermich expressed concerns about timing, noting construction contractor Brait Builders is predicting the school project will finish in June or July of 2027, ahead of schedule.

ESBC member Bill Flannery said a fall Special Town Meeting is likely and would give enough time for the study to be conducted and recommendations made.

Kenney added the pump station evaluation and alternatives analysis was expected to be done by August.

“The study will identify short-, medium- and long-term needs,” he said. Kenney added if the long-term work could not be done in time, the town should have a “Plan B,” with short-term solutions like “tankers and other things they’ve been doing [now] to alleviate issues.”

Kenney said Brait Builders has a contractual obligation to complete the school in October of 2027, even though the contractor expects to finish sooner.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Kenney said. “It’s good news. We just have to keep our feet on the gas to get there.”

Tim Persson, the district’s director of buildings and grounds, said the capacity concerns would not happen until the start of the school year at the end of August, providing a little time if there is an early-July completion date.

He said the concern is about what could happen to the school and neighbors if nothing is done to alleviate the issues.

Short-term solutions can only be adopted for so long, he said. “Whether school starts in August or January, you are hitting a switch on that pump switch that drastically changes the output. [Reed is] trying to stay ahead of [it],” Persson said.

He added everyone is “locked in” to see that sewer problems do not occur.

Flannery asked whether the action being taken is of a “cautionary” nature.

Graziano responded that the town is having stormwater infiltration in the sewer system that should not be happening. “Something is not performing correctly,” he said.

The ESBC chair added the town hoped the initial study would have yielded more detailed results.

Because of the timing of the school opening, it makes sense now to address problems before Charleswood adds greater capacity demands, Graziano said.