Swansea Water District voters OK audit of department's finances

SWANSEA -- By a landslide “yes” vote, Swansea Water District voters on Monday approved a petition article asking for an audit of the department’s finances.

According to Water Commissioners, the Water Commission board now will be charged with issuing requests for proposals and bringing a number to voters at a future special meeting.

Monday’s meeting at the Venus de Milo was called through a petition led by the citizens Group Expect Better Swansea. On Monday, many voters sided with petitioners -- a 132-16 "yes" vote.

Some voters, as well as Commissioner Brian Clark, opposed the move and said that money can be well spent in other areas.

“Why is it necessary and what are the projected costs,” asked resident Henry Elliot.

Commissioner James Hall said he has spoken to one auditing firm and said he is in favor of a three-year audit. Hall said he has received informal quotes of as much as $30,000 per year -- which could amount to as much as $300,000 for a 10-year span.

Hall said that he had once proposed an audit when the district hired superintendent Jeffrey Sutherland in 2018 as a way of starting with a “clean slate” and new leader.

He and others questioned if 10 years would be extreme, as an IRS audit usually spans around seven years.

“We are not worried about the IRS. We are worried about the town of Swansea,” resident Russell Belanger said. “Why doesn't anyone want to go back to 2010. Is there something we are hiding?”

Commissioner Lisa Poncelet-Martelly said she is in favor of an audit.

Poncelet-Martelly was recently elected in June on a platform of change. She and other town water consumers have complained that the district has spent $20 million on a desalination plant, designed to take water from a river and turn it into drinkable, usable water.

“We have already thrown $20 million into a desalination plant that promised plenty of water,” said lead petitioner Betsy Waring.

“Wasn’t $20 million enough?”

She and others have complained about how residents have dealt with discolored water and water from the desalination plant producing less volume than anticipated.

Linda Loughlin, a retired Certified Public Accountant, said commissioners can direct auditors to look for specific information within a 10-year span.

“To work with millions of dollars and not have accountability is crazy,” Loughlin said.

In other business on the five-article warrant, voters approved spending $100,000 for a new well off Bushee Road -- but not without some debate.

The money would come from certified free cash -- or unrestricted funds.

Commissioner Chairman James Hall said the well would replace a well system plagued with iron and manganese issues. That well has been serving the district since 1964 and is past its prime.

Some voters, including Jim Pelletier, called this new well a “Band-aid” approach.

Hall said that if that well is not replaced, the district would lose 40 percent of its water capacity.

“It is critical. This well could produce 800,000 gallons per day of 2 million (gallons),” Hall said.