MORRISTOWN — With construction on the River Road East sewer project slated to be completed by Sept. 15, the town is setting its sights on writing laws to govern its new sewer district, as well as finding a funding source to pay for the project that went several hundred thousand dollars over the original estimate.

The new Sewer District 2 runs from the village line to Jacques Cartier State Park. It includes about 140 single-family dwellings.

“Your goal should be voluntary compliance,” town Attorney Mark G. Gebo said at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, advising the town on how it should proceed as it considers new legislation.

David J. Murray, Morristown town clerk, said the “basic change is to allow enforcement.”

The board also is looking to ensure that laws governing the two sewer districts in Morristown are consistent.

Mr. Murray said changes in the law should be ready for board approval in September and, following a public hearing, could go into effect as soon as October.

The River Road East project that is wrapping up after nearly eight years in the works has gone over budget due in part to higher than expected demand for sewer grinders and additional construction caused by damage done during the blasting phase.

The project originally was approved with a price tag of $3.15 million. The final bill will run $3.8 million.

“We’re over budget because we did more work,” said Timothy A. Burley, partner at Burley-Guminiak & Associates, Canton, which is overseeing the project’s construction.

Mr. Burley said the bulk of the additional cost was made up of 18 grinder units requested by citizens and repairs to storm drains and roads that were affected by blasting.

The original cost per single-family dwelling was estimated at $589 per year. Now, with the additional work, families will be looking at $600 per year.

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