Bethel residents are at the polls today to decide if the Bethel Water Department is sold to Aquarion Water Company for $7.2 million.
First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says there is work to be done on the infrastructure, if the vote is no. If the voters decide to sell he says that would give Aquarion state backing in a stalemate with Danbury over the town's plan 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.
Knickerbocker says the sale would also clear up a $2 million debt that the Water Department built up starting in 2002 while also putting money aside for future capital projects.
