WILTON – Running a small town requires cooperation among the various departments, especially since members for various boards and commissions are sometimes hard to find.

On July 19, some of those commissioners met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the need for cooperation. Attending were Water Commission Tom Schultz, Sewer Commissioner Chris Carter, Road Agent Brian Adams. The question of conflict of interest had arisen because Selectman Kermit Williams serves on both commission, appointed to fill vacancies. It was found there were no legal restrictions on his serving.

Questions had come up because of recent paving and the need to raise the manhole covers and the water gate boxes.

Adams had done the required work.

Both the Water and Sewer Commissions rely on the Highway Department for such work.

Carter said he had not received a bill, but would settle it and meet with Adams to “go over plans for next year” and have funds in the budget.

“The road crew did the work,” Carter said. “We always do it that way. We haven’t had any problems. We discuss everything before hand. We have an agreement about who is responsible for what and the town benefits from it all.”

Schultz added, “We have a cooperative arrangement to try to benefit the town. Municipal services benefit the town.” He noted that Water Superintendent Mike Bergeron occasionally donates his services to municipal buildings, such as the town hall and the recycling center. “We have to think of the value of cooperative ventures. We’d rather pay the money to the town (for instance the highway department) than pay an outside contractor.” He added, “We all have budgets and put in line items for labor. We’re trying to do the right thing.”

Adams said, “We all do work for each other without charge.”

Carter said, “We need to form an infrastructure committee, and add fire and ambulance, for next year, so we’ll know where we’re going.”

Schultz said, “We need an agreement about who digs out fire hydrants (after a snowstorm). We’re going to address it.”

Williams said, “The water and the sewer systems belong to the town. The water system was chartered around 1905.” The sewer system was connected to the Milford Wastewater plant in 1988. “We’re too small (a town) to spend time fighting each other. We need to seek opportunities to help each other. We have a good working relationship.”

Board Chairman Kellie-Sue Boissonnault said, “We need more people to be involved. There will be open spaces (on the ballot) in March.”

Water and Sewer Commissions are each three people, but both Williams and Schultz serve on both because of vacancies.

“We need to get people to run.”

There was no ideas offered as to how to do that.