Last modified: Monday, June 18, 2007 12:20 AM EDT Foxboro sewer plan likely to resurface BY MICHAEL GELBWASSER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF FOXBORO - The $25 million sewer expansion plan rejected by voters last week likely will resurface - revised - at the fall town meeting. Water and Sewer Commissioner William Euerle predicted the new proposal will address questions raised at the special town meeting last Monday night. Euerle predicted the commissioners will poll the potential new sewer customers before the fall town meeting. "This is by no means dead," Euerle said. The $25 million, five-phase sewer expansion plan failed first by one vote and then by 15 votes. Some opponents said they couldn't afford sewer. Others said they didn't want it; their septic systems are working fine. And others said they were too confused to support a potentially pricey venture. "It's very confusing," Planning Board member Scott Barbato said. "I think we all embrace sewer as something we'd like to have. But at $25 million, I don't think it's what we'd like to have." New sewer customers faced bills of $20,000 to $25,000, which included both the betterment and connection fees, commissioners said. However, the figures included the Chestnut Green mixed-use development at the former Foxboro State Hospital - even though the developer and town officials failed to reach a sewer deal. The project would have been constructed in five phases between 2008 and 2012. The expansion would have brought sewer to four of the 13 areas of town identified in Foxboro's comprehensive wastewater management plan. Commissioners said that if the majority of the residents in a particular phase didn't want sewer, the officials would look at revising the program to address other parts of town. But some residents said sewer makes absolutely no sense for them. Former Selectman Bert Delaney said he pays $500 per year to maintain his septic system. Switching to sewer would cost him $25,000 to $30,000, he said. However, voters did agree to seek special legislation allowing Foxboro to borrow $10 million at a low interest rate from the state. The Kraft Group would repay this loan and spend the funds on expanding the wastewater treatment plant at Gillette Stadium. The Krafts would then give Foxboro the plant. But the Krafts won't build it unless Foxboro voters approve a sewer expansion, Euerle said. Foxboro has five years to do so, under the $14.8 million Patriot Place mitigation deal. MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0372 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.