Maynard Finance Committee Reviews $3 Million Water Bond, PFAS Settlement Articles

MAYNARD -- March 30, 2026, Maynard Finance Committee reviews $3 million water infrastructure bond and PFAS settlement articles ahead of Annual Town Meeting. Director of Public Works Justin DeMarco briefed the six-member committee Monday on 11 water, sewer, and related articles, disclosing that water consumption has fallen 10 to 15 percent, forcing a 7 percent rate increase even though the sewer enterprise fund budget rose only 2.32 percent and the water enterprise fund budget actually declined slightly from FY26. Water retained earnings stand at $912,000 and sewer at $838,000. The committee also heard that Maynard has received approximately $700,000 of an anticipated $3.1 million PFAS class action settlement from DuPont and 3M, with funds targeted at a permanganate injection system to address disinfectant byproduct violations. Town Administrator Greg Johnson floated a proposed article that would allow multi-year contracts above three years without town meeting approval, citing a five-year state contract for police body cameras, but member Peter Campbell flatly rejected the concept: "Am I comfortable giving the Select Board and the town administrator blanket authorization to do 20-year contracts? No, I'm not." The committee voted 6 to 0 to approve its March 9 minutes; Finance Committee comments on ATM articles are due April 15.