ROCKLAND, Maine — The City Council shot down a proposed sewer ordinance Monday night that would have mandated inspections of private sewer lines.
The proposal had been met with considerable opposition, including from the Mid-Coast Board of Realtors. Residents said the ordinance would impose an additional burden on private property owners.
The inspections would be mandated when a property is sold, when a bathroom was added or when a substantial addition was built. If the inspection revealed problems, the homeowner would have been required to make repairs.
Mayor Frank Isganitis was the only councilor to voice support for the inspection mandate, but in the end he agreed to reject the overall ordinance.
“We need to go back to the drawing board,” said Councilor Larry Pritchett.
Pritchett said the problem was not so much faulty private lines but peak flow volume going to the wastewater treatment plant from rainwater.
The council gave the measure preliminary approval on Sept. 8 and was considering final approval on Oct. 15 before concerns were voiced.
Also at the meeting, councilors were given sobering news about potential budget impacts from the school and county budgets.
Esther “Tess” Kilgour, who represents Rockland on the Regional School Unit 13 board, said that Rockland likely will bear the burden of an increased budget this year. With the departure of St. George from RSU 13, the city is expected to pick up added expenses.
Kilgour urged the council to keep on top of the school budget process. Councilor William Clayton urged the interim city manager to contact the school district to schedule a joint meeting on budgets.
Resident Steve Carroll of Rockland, who represents the city on the Knox County budget committee, pointed out that a public hearing and final vote on the 2015 Knox County budget is scheduled for Thursday evening. The budget will require 5 to 6 percent more in taxes from the city, and he said he will propose at that final meeting that the budget be reduced to a zero increase. Carroll said he expects the proposal will be rejected.