Organization
Elected Officials
Jonathan Gulliver - Chairman - Term expires 2026
Jonathan Gulliver has served the LSDC as the District Administrator since 1999 and was elected in 2018 to fill the remainder of a three year term vacated by a resignation. Mr. Gulliver is a longtime resident of the District and a Civil Engineer.
Robert Lidstone - Clerk - Term expires 2024
Robert Lidstone was first elected in 1999 to a three year term. Mr Lidstone has been a primary proponent of the LSDC’s planning efforts spearheading the initiative to develop a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan.
Ralph Gifford - Commissioner - Term expires 2025
Ralph Gifford was elected in 2023 in a special election to serve the remainder of a three year term that had been vacated.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Commission
The primary responsibility of the Commission is to ensure the sound economical and efficient operation and maintenance of the system and to ensure the highest quality services to members of the District. The Commission is also responsible for setting clear financial and operational policy directives. The Commission leads the District in all matters setting goals and policies required for management and growth. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the Commission to interact with the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) to set clear policies with regards to the District's use of the treatment services provided by the Authority.
In addition to their regular duties, the Commission also provides authorization for the operational, engineering, administration and finance services necessary to run the District.
The District Administrator
Provides executive management, proposes policy formation and strategic planning, to present to the Commission for acceptance. Additionally, the District Administrator's Office and associated staff is responsible for the commitment and collection of monies paid to the LSDC. The office assists the Commission in efforts for implementing and monitoring the Commission's policies. The District Administrator also acts as the Project Manager for the District effectively planning, designing, managing and providing contract compliance for the construction of the Commission's capital projects. For matters relating to the compliance of the Commissions Rules and Regulations the District Administrator also assumes the role of Superintendent of Sewers.
The District Treasurer
Assists the Commission with all financial affairs of the District. The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining the District financial records and for the administration of funds. The Treasurer works with the Commission and staff to develop financial policy, set annual budgets, oversee annual audits, and seek out cost saving opportunities.
The District Inspector
Provides operation and maintenance services for the Commission ensuring the effective operation of the LSDC's System. The Inspector is also the primary compliance officer for the District ensuring that all connections to the System are done in a manner consistent with the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.
The District Billing Clerk
Provides day-today office support staff and assists the Commission in the issue and collection of bills. Responsible for processing administrative paperwork and bookkeeping of accounts payable and receivable.
The Lancaster Sewer District was established in 1967 by a special act of the Massachusetts Legislature. The act calls for the formation of a 'body government' within the boundaries of the Town of Lancaster. This means that although the District occurs within the Boundaries of the Town of Lancaster it is separate from it. The District is an independant government entity from the Town of Lancaster. The District's governing authority, it's elected Commission, works with the Town of Lancaster to assure that mutual goals are met.
Utility districts of many sorts, such as sewer and water districts, are established in this way because the essential utilities that they provide are typically too specialized to be rolled into a local government. Additionally, often the financial burden of establishing a utility district is too much to bear for a local government while special grants and loans are more readily available for a separate and new utility.
The LSDC is managed through a combination of elected officials and appointed staff. The primary management is through the Board of Commissioner's who set policy and establish clear operational directives.
Chapter 831 is the establishing legislation for the creation of the LSDC and the general rules it must operate under. The legislation specifies, among other things, the general form of governance, the process for creating boundaries and service areas, and duties of the board of Commissioners.
LSDC Full Amended Legislation PDF | 141K
