Development News for Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Council Approves Water/Sewer Rate Adjustments, Water Project Loan, and Budget Transfers

The council discussed and approved several budget-related items. Orders were passed to accept grants for student awareness and fire education, transfer funds for capital leasing obligations, and adjust FY27 water and sewer rates. An amendment to the sewer rate order adjusted tiers for usage. An order to rescind a previous loan authorization for the Plymouth Street Wells project and authorize a new, larger loan for water system improvements was approved. Budget transfers were also discussed for the water enterprise fund, sewer enterprise fund, and transfer station enterprise fund to close out the fiscal year. General fund transfers and contractual buyout transfers were referred to the budget and finance committee. The CPA reserve account budget for FY27 was also discussed and referred. Councilors debated the funding for the library, with differing views on using stabilization funds and the overall town budget constraints.

Town Manager Updates Council on Water System Progress, Restrictions, and Emergency Extension

The town manager provided an update on the water system, including progress on the Plymouth Street treatment system upgrades, installation of piping infrastructure, and mounting of iron and magnes filters. PAS remediation is also underway with the pouring of a concrete pad for filters. Electrical and SCADA integration are in progress. The town is actively patrolling for non-essential outdoor water use and urging residents to adhere to water restrictions. Well 5 has been redeveloped and brought back online, and work is being done to mitigate tuberculation in piping, with potential exploration of new transmission mains and high-jetting into pipes. The town petitioned for a six-month water emergency in December 2025, which is expiring in June, and the town manager intends to petition the state to continue it. A $2 million grant has been secured, and additional grant applications are pending. A water forum is scheduled for June 23rd to address resident concerns and provide information. Concerns were raised about the cost and process of potential water agreements with Brockton and the Lincoln Andrews land acquisition.

Council Considers Zoning Amendment to Regulate High-Intensity Data Centers

The council discussed a proposed zoning ordinance amendment (DFY 260016) to address high-intensity data centers. Councilor Murphy introduced the ordinance, citing concerns about the significant drain on town resources, particularly water and electricity, that data centers can cause. The ordinance aims to prevent the establishment of such facilities in Bridgewater. Councilors expressed general support for placing guardrails on data centers, referencing similar actions in other towns like Mansfield, which has banned AI data centers. While some favored an outright ban, others suggested a more flexible approach with guardrails that could be adjusted later to potentially generate tax revenue without overwhelming infrastructure. The ordinance was referred to the Planning Board and CEDC for further review.

Council Debates Meeting Frequency and Public Comment Time Limits

The council discussed the administrative code, specifically focusing on the length of meetings and the public comment period. Councilor Spagon proposed increasing the frequency of council meetings from twice a month to weekly to manage the workload and allow more time for public input. The discussion also involved the three-minute limit for public comments, with suggestions to either remove it or extend the time to allow residents to express their concerns more fully. Several councilors debated the pros and cons of more frequent meetings and the public comment time limits, with differing opinions on the impact on meeting length and resident participation.