By Katy Savage
Woodstock voters could decide to buy the privately owned Woodstock Aqueduct Company and make it a municipal operation on Town Meeting Day in March.
The aqueduct company, owned by the Billings family and other investors, is being offered for sale for the value of the debt.
It’s unclear how much debt the Woodstock Aqueduct Company has, according to Charlie Kimbell, a former state representative and member of the Woodstock Economic Development Commission. It could cost around $10 million to bring the operation up to state water pressure requirements. The town would need to upgrade the size of the pipe from 8-inches to 12-inches. Kimbell said the town would also likely need to build a new reservoir in the east end of town.
The town sought studies on economics from the Harvard Business School and the finance committee has discussed the issue at length.
“The recommendation was it was in the best interest of Woodstock to purchase and operate the Woodstock Aqueduct Company,” Kimbell said.
Kimbell said the purchase would give the town water security and public safety security since there are about 96 fire hydrants on the system. It would also give the town control over the operation and get the lowest cost for ratepayers. Unlike privately owned systems, the town has access to grants and low interest loans.
“There’s only one right choice and that choice is to go ahead and purchase the water system,” resident Ryan Logan said.
Some were hesitant to move forward given the unknowns about how much the system would cost.
Resident Jon Spector urged the board to put the measure on the Town Meeting Day ballot in March to let voters decide.
“There are enough questions from members of the community who would like to see the numbers and assumptions you’ve heard Charlie make,” Spector said.
The Woodstock Aqueduct Company dates back to 1880. Jireh Billings is the company’s current president, and the Billings family still holds more than half of the company’s stock, the Boston Globe reported.
The existing water system is at capacity and upgrades are not being made. A new home or business is not currently able to connect to the water system, residents said.
Resident Jill Davies said questions about the aqueduct company are holding up future development.
“We have a public utility owned by a private company that’s not putting in any investment,” she said. “What that’s doing is stopping houses being built.”
Town Meeting Day will be held by Australian ballot in March. The Select Board has yet to make a decision to put it to voters.
Voters will also decide to incorporate a 1% sales option tax in March. The tax would add 1% to the state’s existing 6% sales tax and would apply to any purchases made in town or online.
The measure was defeated by a small margin in 2022.
The sales tax would be an addition to Woodstock’s 1% local option taxes on meals, rooms and alcohol, which has been in place since 2015. The balance funds the Economic Development Commission.
“It’s one of the few ways we can share the burden of operating costs with visitors,” Select Board member Laura Powell said.
Proceeds would go toward infrastructure costs.
“This is our opportunity to share the costs with visitors,” resident Greta Calabrese said.
