CITY OF BRIDGEPORT, CT
Mayor Joseph P. Ganim

• Population: 142,000
• Service Area Population: 164,750
  
  For additional information, contact: Chris Duby Press Secretary Office of the Mayor 45 Lyon Terrace Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 576-7201 FAX (203) 576-8383

DESCRIPTION OF PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT

In a continuation of a successful city initiative to save money by contracting for municipal services, the City of Bridgeport entered into a five-year contract in April 1997 with Professional Services Group, Inc. (PSG), for the operations, maintenance and management of the City's two wastewater treatment plants, 11 pumping stations and the combined storm and sanitary sewer and sanitary and storm water systems. Bridgeport's Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) has remained in place to carry out administrative duties and to monitor debt while PSG operates and manages the plants. PSG guarantees compliance with all applicable regulatory agency requirements. The WPCA Board, whose members are appointed by the Mayor, continue to have oversight authority of the WPCA. The City's plants treat 40 MGD of sewage per day. There are more than 500 miles of sewer system pipes in the City.

ESTIMATED/ACTUAL COST SAVINGS -- IMPACT ON RATES

The City will pay PSG an annual fee to manage, operate and maintain the system. PSG will also provide more than $1 million in improvements to the facilities. The WPCA currently budgets $10.6 million for services provided by the agency, and under this contract, PSG is able to offer the same services to city ratepayers for $2 million less per yea, a savings of 20 percent. Over the term of the five-year contract, rate payers will save $10 million. As a direct result of the City's savings, residents will see a two to five percent drop in their quarterly sewer bills beginning July 1, 1997. In addition to Bridgeport, the facilities serve household in parts of three surrounding towns. Without this partnership, rates would have increased in the next fiscal year.

LABOR RELATIONS

A no job loss provision was a central part of all contract negotiations. All WPCA employees were offered positions by PSG with comparable wage and benefit packages. Workforce reductions will occur only through normal attrition over a two to three year period. Supervisory employees have the right to return to employment of the City in the first six months of the contract. PSG must maintain the staffing level required by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the Consent Decree.