Rockland is under an administrative order by the Environmental Protection Agency, and improvements need to be made to the sewer system in town.
An order from the EPA was issued in 2006, and since the town has not taken corrective action, they could be fined for wastewater discharge.
Making the situation more difficult is an adversarial relationship between the Board of Selectmen and the Sewer Commissioners.
With deadlines ahead, Town Administrator Douglas Lapp updated the Selectmen after he watched a recent meeting with the Commissioners.
Audio is courtesy of WRPS Rockland.
The Commissioners are currently in the process of finding a fourth sewer superintendent in two years, and are considering hiring a project manager to assist with EPA compliance. Superintendents have said the Commissioners tried to overtake day-to-day operations. Highway Superintendent Dave Taylor had been serving as the Interim Sewer Superintendent since November.
In August, he submitted a letter of resignation to the Selectmen, saying the Sewer Commissioners view him as an “adversary,” and are trying to overtake day-to-day operations.
An investigation last year found that Commissioner Chair Chuck Heshion deleted emails from residents, violated open meeting law, and had abusive conduct towards town officials.
At the suggestion of Town Counsel John Clifford, the Selectmen had hoped a working group would keep the commissioners on track to meet future deadlines.
Lapp said they would continue to work with the Commissioners in a professional manner if any requests for information are made.
The next deadline for the Sewer Commissioners is set for November.
