WILBRAHAM — Voters at the spring Town Meeting will decide whether to approve DPW projects, including if the town should borrow up to $4 million for water infrastructure.
In speaking with the Select Board at its meeting on March 17, DPW Director Tonya Caparello said the water commissioners and Water Superintendent Vincent Pafumi had decided to pursue a loan to fund the installation of a new water main on Miller Street. The project involves installing a new, larger water main to replace the existing 10-inch cast iron main, which is over 100 years old.
If approved at the spring Town Meeting, the DPW would be authorized to borrow up to $4 million for design and construction, despite Caparello’s expectation that the project will run about $2 million. She explained that the language in the article would read “water infrastructure,” rather than specifically name the Miller Street project, so the town can be flexible with unused funding.
The 10-year loan from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority would come with 0% interest and be paid back through the water rate, instead of by taxpayers. About 3,300 of the town’s roughly 5,345 households in Wilbraham use town water. Caparello said estimating the impact to rates is premature because retained earnings would be used before water rates are increased. She also said the water rate had not been adjusted in about 10 years.
Caparello also discussed various capital projects her department views as priorities. These include three dump trucks which were approved by the Capital Planning Committee for fiscal year 2026. However, Caparello said that if the trucks are purchased by the end of FY25 in June, they will cost substantially less, saving the town $310,000 over three years. The savings could be important, she said, adding, “We really don’t know what is going to happen [with funding] over the next few years.”
One item not approved by the Capital Planning Committee was the purchase of rapid flashing beacons for Stony Hill Road and Main Street. These cost about $50,000. Flashing school zone beacons for Tinkham Road and Main Street would run about $40,000. Caparello said drivers pay more attention to flashing lights than signs. The beacons in those locations would be a pilot program to determine their efficacy before installing them in other locations around town.
Caparello emphasized that she appreciates the support from the Capital Planning Committee and explained that she had prioritized the trucks over the lights.
Select Board member Mark Ducey said he fully supports the school zone lights and wondered if the money saved on the dump trucks could be diverted to the school zone lights. Caparello said she will find out in the spring if grant funding for the lights will be awarded to the town. Otherwise, she said funding could be taken from the road resurfacing budget.
Select Board Chair Susan Bunnell mentioned that she planned to ask state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) and state Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield) for roadway funding when they inquire about earmarks.
