An Act relative to the creation of a sewer and water advisory board in the town of Walpole

Walpole changes who controls water and sewer

Effective upon passage, the law abolishes Walpole’s elected sewer and water commission and ends its members’ elected terms. The select board takes exclusive control of installing and maintaining sewers, sewage treatment plants, and the town’s water system. It takes over the commissioners’ powers and duties, including setting water and sewer rates. The charter, town bylaws, or representative town meeting votes can authorize additional powers. All work and maintenance projects must be assigned to the town administrator or a designee. A new five-member advisory board advises on policy, annual budgets, and rates, but not technical or operating matters. It also advises on other sewer and water matters when the select board or town administrator requests help. Former commissioners become the first advisory members, serving the rest of their original terms or until they leave. Regular appointments are for overlapping three-year terms, with no more than two terms ending in one year. The select board appoints two members, the finance committee appoints two, and the moderator appoints one. During the transition, the select board fills the first two vacancies and the finance committee fills the next two. Vacancies are filled for the remaining term, when applicable; otherwise, transitional appointments are for three years. After the transition, the responsible appointing body fills vacancies for the remaining term. The law itself does not change household rates or require a specific service change.