CAMDEN-ROCKPORT — After years of conversation, debate and sometimes wrangling — aspects of which even wound up in Knox County Superior Court — Camden and Rockport now have a proposed sewer agreement before their Select Boards and have made the document public. On Tuesday, May 20, the Camden Select Board will discuss it during a regularly scheduled meeting.

At that same meeting, the Camden Select Board will discuss a $2.4 million 2025-2026 wastewater budget, up 8.45 percent from the current budget, and reflecting increases in sludge removal, electrical, collection system maintenance, employee health insurance and fulltime wages.

The proposed five-page wastewater agreement between Camden and Rockport arrives after a six-month deliberation behind closed doors, represented by two Select Board members from each town, plus their town managers. The agreement updates what was established in the 1980s, when Camden first allowed Rockport to hook into its municipal wastewater treatment system. Prior to that, Rockport had no sewer system.

In 2024, both towns committed to find common ground, an exercise that followed several years of financial dispute over sewer costs, and how much each municipality should assume and to what extent.

In June 2024, Rockport voters had rejected a proposal to pursue building its own wastewater treatment facility and favored establishing a citizen-lead Rockport Wastewater Exploratory Task Force to study the costs and benefits of a collaborative approach for improving wastewater treatment systems.

In October 2024, and after meeting five times over the preceding summer, the Task Force issued its recommendations (see sidebar for those recommendations).

In an Oct. 28 letter from from Rockport Task Force to the Rockport Select Board, the citizen-lead committee asked for action from the Rockport Board on a variety of sewer-related issues, both internally to Rockport and to the two-town system.

The letter was not on the Nov. 12 Rockport Select Board agenda, and was not discussed. Its existence, however, was briefly mentioned at the meeting, but Chair Munger said would not be discussed because it was not on the agenda.

In November, a small group of Select Board members and town managers began meeting in private, each town suggesting it was the other's preference to meeting behind closed doors. Attending those meetings were Camden Select Board Chair Susan Dorr, Select Board member Alison McKellar, Town Manager Caler, Rockport Town Manager Jon Duke, Select Board Chair Denise Munger and board member Michelle Hannan.

In May 2025, the group reach a consensus. Rockport Select Board reviewed the proposed contract in a Friday afternoon executive session meeting, and the Camden Select Board followed by its own executive session review the following Tuesday.

Now, the document is public and ready for review by citizens. It follows here in entirety.

WASTEWATER DISCHARGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF CAMDEN AND THE TOWN OF ROCKPORT

This AGREEEMENT made this ____ day of June, 2025, by and between the Camden Wastewater Commissioners on behalf of the Town of Camden, a municipal corporation located in the County of Knox and State of Maine (hereinafter referred to as “Camden”), and the Rockport Wastewater Commissioners on behalf of the Town of Rockport (hereinafter referred to as “Rockport”), a municipal corporation located in the County of Knox and State of Maine.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this agreement is to provide for the short-term wastewater disposal needs of Rockport and to allow time for both towns to evaluate future capacity requirements and treatment goals. This agreement sets rates and limits that are designed to prevent overburdening the infrastructure in Camden that could result in environmental degradation such as permit exceedances of treated effluent to Camden Harbor or the overflow of untreated sewage at the Rawson Avenue Pump Station into the Megunticook River. Within two years of the date of this agreement, both towns agree to meet and provide an update on capacity and treatment needs relevant to Rockport continuing as a Camden wastewater customer.

MUTUAL CONVENANTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

It is hereby agreed that Camden bears the responsibility for providing adequate treatment of waste flows in conformance with all applicable statutes, ordinances, regulations, and permits and is solely responsible for securing all permits, licenses, insurance coverage, and authorizations incident to that charge.

Both parties further agree to adopt, keep in effect and from time to time amend a sewer use ordinance and an industrial pretreatment ordinance and regulations which shall include but shall not be limited to provisions which will specify the level of pretreatment required of all non-domestic wastewaters and the limits of toxicity and characteristics that may be otherwise damaging to the biological process, as required by State and Federal regulations.

The metering facility shall be maintained by Rockport. Metering devices shall be of a continuous recording totalizing type so that, by subtraction, the volume of flow in any given period may be obtained. Representatives of both Rockport and Camden shall have access to the metering installation and other accounting records for purposes of inspection and verification of measurements. The meter shall be checked and calibrated by an independent contractor at Rockport’s expense.

Reporting requirements: Rockport wastewater flow data reports shall be provided to the Camden Wastewater Treatment facility by the seventh day of the month on each quarterly billing month. The quarterly billing months are defined as January, April, July and October. Each quarterly report shall provide separate monthly information from each metered location1 for the following:

(1) Daily total flow in gallons. (2) Average daily flow in gallons for each month. (3) Monthly total flow in gallons. Flow data reports shall represent Rockport’s total wastewater flow and identify the location of where the flow data is being taken from. Flow data reports shall be signed by an authorized Rockport wastewater representative verifying the information to be accurate.

When Camden revises its Sewer Use Ordinance and such revisions are relevant to Camden’s ability to properly treat Rockport’s wastewater, Camden shall forward a copy of the revisions to Rockport.

Rockport will maintain current information on industrial users located in its jurisdiction. Rockport will update its industrial waste survey annually for industrial users located in its jurisdiction. Upon request, Rockport will forward a copy of this survey to Camden.

Camden shall issue permits to industrial users required to be permitted under their sewer use ordinances. Permits must be issued prior to any discharge. Permits must contain, at a minimum, appropriate effluent limitations, monitoring and reporting requirements, a statement of duration, a statement of non-transferability, a statement of applicable civil and criminal penalties, and any other conditions required by State and Federal regulatory requirements and guidance.

Rockport shall meet the following flow limits and meet the required testing limits in the following table:

IThe Towns of Rockport and Camden shall respectively enforce the provisions of their sewer use ordinances including adequate enforcement action against non-compliant users on a timely basis.

The two metered locations include Camden Street and the Country Inn.

III. FLOW GUARANTEED UPON CONDITIONS STATED
A. Camden guarantees its wastewater treatment plant will have a total capacity sufficient to accommodate a maximum of 90,000 gallons per day; provided, however, Rockport’s wastewater is in compliance with Chapter 224-6 of Camden’s Sewer Code, with the exception of unknown sources of inflow and infiltration, which when identified, Rockport makes a good faith effort to correct, and provided that the flow shall be delivered to the Camden system at the mutually agreed interconnection point2 in quantities within the flow capacity of the interconnecting conveyance line3. In the event that the 90,000 gallons per day monthly average is exceeded, Camden shall have the right to impose a penalty of $10,000 per month.

CHARGES AND FEES

1. Camden shall charge Rockport a fixed rate for the duration of this agreement. A fixed rate of $10.88 per 100 cubic feet (equal to the rate paid by Camden residential users in financial year 2024-2025). Fees will be adjusted annually during the duration of this agreement based on the previous calendar year average of the Consumer Price Index. Rockport will use its best efforts to ensure that total flow does not exceed 90,000 gallons in a 24-hour period. Flow received in excess of 90,000 gallons per day shall incur a 20% surcharge for the totality of flow over the 24-hours period when the overage of 90,000 gal/day occurred.
2. In the event that Rockport exceeds the quarterly FOG limit of 100mg/L there will be a 10% surcharge applied to the wastewater bill for that quarter, unless Rockport retests and shows compliance with the limit.
3. Camden shall bill Rockport quarterly through the Maine Water Company by submitting a statement of metered sewerage charges. Rockport shall pay any such charges assessed within (30) days of receipt of the said statement.
4. Rockport shall provide Camden at least annually with the number of users presently being served or able to be served by the Rockport collection system. For purposes of the agreement, each dwelling unit and each separate business and each non- industrial commercial enterprise served or able to be served shall be considered a separate user or customer.
5. Upon the expiration of this agreement, unless amended, Rockport will be charged a fee based upon the Camden residential user metered sewage rate in 2029-2030 plus a 15% surcharge.

V. ADMINISTRATION

1. The Camden Wastewater Commissioners or the Camden Wastewater Superintendent shall have the sole responsibility for the operation and administration of this Agreement, except for those responsibilities expressly delegated to the Rockport Wastewater Commissioners as described herein.
2. Rockport shall have the obligations and rights afforded to it hereunder, together with all necessary powers incident thereto including, but not limited to, the right to inspect any and all records relating to the operation and maintenance of the treatment plant and its attendant physical plant as well as the operations, metering and measuring activities at all jointly used facilities.

1. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
   1. Rockport shall inform Camden when a commercial or industrial business proposes tooperate, or expand output, in Rockport when the proposed new business’ wastewater shall be directed to the Camden sewer system. If the new source of wastewater is a high strength source of Biological Oxygen Demand and/or Total Suspended Solids, or other substances detrimental to an activated sludge treatment system, Rockport shall provide the strength per gallon of wastewater of each of these pollutants and a pretreatment plan to minimize impacts to the wastewater treatment plant from these pollutants.
   2. Rockport shall provide Camden with the Annual Industrial user survey, as part of the annual reporting requirements. Rockport shall also evaluate each new potential sewer user as part of the sewer connection permit process to determine if the “permittee” is a Categorical Industrial User (CIU) or a Significant Industrial User (SIU) as defined in 40 CFR 403.6 and 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N. If any new or existing sewer user or permittee falls into the category of a CIU or a SIU, Rockport shall notify Camden, and those users shall be included in the Camden Industrial User program and comply with all the requirements of the Camden Industrial User Program.
   3. Rockport shall calibrate and perform preventive maintenance on all flow recording equipment annually, by an independent firm. The results shall be provided as part of the annual reporting requirements.
2. AMENDMENTS AND SEVERANCE

A. This Agreement may be modified or amended by mutual agreement of both parties

by their respective Wastewater Commissioners, or their authorized representatives, evidenced by a duly executed instrument in writing attached hereto. Further, the respective Wastewater Commissioners, or their authorized representatives, shall have the authority to execute on behalf of their Towns mutually agreed upon amendments to the Agreement from time to time which do not substantially alter the intent of this Agreement and are solely for the convenience of both parties, including the development of an industrial cost recovery agreement, if required; provided, however, the Wastewater Commissioners of Camden shall not thereby irrevocably relinquish any of their rights or authority created or arising from this Agreement. If any portion of this Agreement is found to be invalid, contrary to law, or unenforceable, the balance of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, unless such severance serves to substantially impair the Purpose of this Agreement.

VIII. DURATION
A. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for five (5) years and may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, evidenced by a duly executed instrument in writing attached hereto.

IX. EFFECTIVE DATE
This agreement shall not become effective until signed by duly authorized representatives from each party.

The full May 20 Camden Select Board agenda follows:

6:30 p.m. French Conference Room

Select Board meetings are webstreamed at: www.youtube.com/TownofCamdenMaine

For those wishing to participate remotely, please click the link below to join the zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82053577680

1. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

2. Approval of Board Minutes April 15, 2025 & May 6, 2025

3. Public Hearings: (New Owners requires a public hearing for first 5 years)
a) Barren’s Restaurant at 2 Wayfarer Drive for a renewal Class A Restaurant Liquor License
b) CamdenCharcuterieat56ElmStreet,UnitAforanewClassARestaurantLiquorLicense
c) Peter Ott’s (new owners) at 16 Bay View Landing for a new Class A Restaurant Liquor License d) SaltWharfat3WayfarerDriveforarenewalClassARestaurantLiquorLicense
e) Villager Café at 25 Mechanic Street for a new Class A Restaurant Liquor License

4. Consent Agenda
a) Approval of renewal Victualer & Lodging Licenses: Blue Barren, Camden Charcuterie, Camden Cone, Cedar Crest Inn, Fresh Restaurant, Harbor Dogs, Norumbega Inn, Paper Plane, Peter Ott’s, Salt Wharf, Swan House

b) Approval of Temporary (Banners) for Camden Hills Regional High School Baccalaureate on  Monday, June 6 

5. Select Board Reports

6. Town Manager’s Report

6. Action Items
a) Approval of FY 26 Wastewater Budget
b) Approval of new Police Cruiser
b) Approval of Wastewater Agreement w/ Rockport
c) Approval of 39 Main Street Dangerous Building Order
d) Confirmation of Alternate Code Enforcement Officer Andrew Lowe
e) Daysailer Request to Permanently Switch License: Sloop Heritage to Sloop Inherit the Wind

9. Adjournment