Bethel residents have voted to keep the Bethel Water Department as a town asset rather than selling to Aquarion Water Company. The unofficial vote tally was 1774 to 693.
First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says there is work to be done on the infrastructure. He adds that the town still wants to build a new water storage tank. Danbury's planning and zoning commission has been holding up development on town owned land within city limits because it's in the scenic Long Ridge Road area.
A complaint has been filed with the State Elections Commission against the Treasurer of “Vote Yes for Clean Drinking Water,” alleging that the PAC accepted a donation from Aquarion in excess of what is allowed. The revelation came out during Tuesday's public hearing about the potential sale of the Bethel Water Department to Aquarion.
Bethel State Representative Dan Carter says while it is technically legal for the company to contribute to a PAC on an issue that could benefit them, it's not legal to donate that much. He says even though it's only about $150 more than the legal limit, it's still questionable.
3,408 residential and commercial customers, about 10,000 people, are served by the Bethel Water Department.
