Council Votes to Withdraw from Health District

Citing a failure to contain costs, the Ledyard Town Council voted 6-3 Wednesday to notify the Ledge Light Health District that it intends to withdraw from the five-town organization.

The vote followed a lengthy presentation by North Stonington First Selectman Nick Mulane and Stonington First Selectman Edward Harberek Jr., whose towns have been meeting regularly with several other towns in the region for the purpose of creating a new, less expensive health district.

Ledyard Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr. has been meeting with the towns, which include Preston, Franklin and East Lyme, since January. The concern with Ledge light is that it has become too bureaucratic, with the town's contribution ballooning from around $17,000 in 2001 to $114,578 this year, or about $7.41 per resident.

It was later was later noted that the town's initial $17,000 contribution did not include the current level of sanitarian services provided by Ledge Light. Even so, said Councilor Jim Diaz, "it is clear that (Ledge Light) has lost all sight of financial responsibility. This is a way we can send a message."

Mullane said a new health district can provide all the necessary services mandated by the state for about $3.23 per resident – less than half the amount now charged by Ledge Light, although Allyn said he preferred to use a number closer to $4 per resident.

In support of Ledge Light

Prior to the council vote, several people spoke in support of continued Ledge Light membership, including Bob Reimer, one of Ledyard's representatives to the District's board of directors.

Ledge Light Director Dr. Baker Salsbury made a spirited defense of his organization, stating flatly that the alternative health district under consideration "won't work."

Salsbury cited his highly trained professional staff and said Ledge Light's response time is among the best in the state. He further claimed that creating a new state agency with reporting duties and various other mandates will be more costly than the towns realize.

He said money, timeliness and "value-added" are three reasons to stay with Ledge Light.

But Mulane, during his presentation, cited numerous examples of how a new health district could be more cost-effective. "If we can do a septic inspection for $75 (versus approximately $125), that's a significant 'value-added,'" he said.

In response to the potential loss of a grant writer, Haberek said grant money is becoming increasingly scarce. "We are in an unprecedented situation, with grant money drying up but the mandates are still there," he said. "We need to work together, collaboratively."

Councilor Bill Saums said he supports regionalization, "but not when it creates bureaucracy," he said. He sought some assurance that the new organization would not eventually morph into the old one.

"I am of the opinion that we can to this more efficiently, that we can run a quality organization and keep costs down," Mulane responded. "We won't spend any more than we have to," he added.

Potential savings to Ledyard by aligning with the new health district could be around $65,000 a year, according to Mulane's numbers. "This is not just some half-baked scheme," he said. "It will succeed. I have no doubt in my mind."

Concilors Mary McGrattan, Linda Davis and Sharon Wadecki cast the three dissenting votes.

McGrattan, who is a nurse, noted some of the many services provided by Ledge Light beyond septic system inspections. She said she has heard from several residents in support of continued membership. "I haven't heard anyone asking us to withdraw our membership," she said.

"I know how we struggle on the budget," Wadecki said. "We would save money (by withdrawing), but I'm not sure we would be better off."

Saums, who voted with the majority, said he had mixed feelings. "It's not an efficient organization," he said. "They could cut costs more, and they need to. They have reduced their head count, but they need to reduce it more."

The council voted to give notice to Ledge Light with the understanding that it could still reconsider its decision before June. It clearly left the door open for Ledge Light to demonstrate a renewed commitment to cost savings.

But Councilor Sean Sullivan said the town should not stay on the fence for long. "We need to make a final decision soon," he said.