SEWER EXTENSION POLICY

When an extension to the District's Sewer System is proposed by a private applicant, the following procedure shall be followed:

FORMAL HEARING

1. The Applicant shall submit to the District four sets of project blueprints and four copies of the project description. The project description shall include such information as: the estimated number of known and/or potential users, the estimated wastewater floe for known and/or potential use, the type of soil, drainage and general contour features along the path of the proposed sewer and any other information which applicant wishes to submit in support of the proposal for the sewer extension or which may be requested by the Superintendent or the Trustees.

2. When application is first made to the District, notice of the application, with a copy of the description, shall be sent to the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen.

3. The applicant's plans and description shall be submitted by the District to the Maine Board of Environmental Protection pursuant to 38 M.R.S.A S  361.

4. The Plans for the extension shall be submitted for the review and approval by an engineering consultant selected by the District. The cost of this engineering review shall be paid by the applicant. The estimated cost shall be deposited with the District prior to the review.

5. After the completion of the engineering review, the superintendent shall schedule a public hearing on the application, which hearing may be part of a regular of special meeting of the Trustees. The hearing notice shall be published at least seven calendar days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area, and shall be sent tot the Department of Environmental Protection, the Wells Planning board and the Board of Selectmen at least two weeks prior to the hearing.

6. At the Hearing, the Trustees shall receive testimony exhibits, and other evidence, facts or opinions that the Applicant wishes to present. Abutters, potential users, members of representatives of municipal of state boards and other members of the public shall be afforded the opportunity to participate. The hearing shall be conducted by the Chairman in an orderly and informal manner. Following the Maine Rules of Evidence shall not be required. The Chairman may use broad discretion in controlling the hearing. The Trustees may inquire of those testifying, and questions may be asked by others through the Chairman.

7. After the Applicant and others have been heard, the Chairman shall close the public hearing. The Board shall the deliberate on the application. All deliberation and action upon  such application shall be conducted in open, public meetings.

8. The public hearing shall be continued to a later date only upon good cause shown. The Board may, upon motion and Majority vote, continue the deliberation to a  later meeting if more information is needed or for other good cause. If the hearing, the deliberation, any part of the deliberation of the final decision is continued to a later date, then the time, date and place of any such continued proceedings shall be determined as part of the public meeting for which the notice was given, or at any continuation of such noticed hearing, and any such arrangement shall be announced and made part of the record of the  proceedings. Upon such proper notice during the hearing of deliberations, it shall not be necessary to give further notice of the continued proceedings. At the request of the Board, and within the discretion of the Chairman, the  Public Hearing may be re-opened for the receipt of additional testimony or other information only after further notice as specified above.

9. After deliberation, the Board shall decide whether to approve the proposed  extension. Within ten days of a final decision, the Superintendent shall give written notification to the Applicant, the DEP and the Planning Board of the decision of the Board of Trustees. If the application is denied, the notification shall include the reason for the denial. If the application is conditionally approved, the notification shall state with specificity ant time limitations and conditions that must be met for approval to become final. Upon the completion of any conditions, applicant shall provide written certification to the Superintendent that the conditions have been met. The approval becomes final upon the acceptance by the Board of such certification of completion.

INFORMAL HEARING

In addition to the formal hearing procedure, when an applicant is planning a project which involves a sewer extension that is substantial or unusual in any way, he may request the  Superintendent to schedule an informal meeting with the Board of Trustees for the purpose of exploring feasibility, relationship with other proposed or likely projects, consistency with the master sewer plan, views of the Board on related policy matters of other issues that may be mutually beneficial to discuss prior to major expenditures of time and money on engineering plans and other preparations.

Any such informal hearings shall be informational  only, and discussions of alternatives, possibilities or individual preferences shall not be binding upon the applicant or the Board at the time of any formal application.

 ADOPTED 5/26/88