North Marin Water District staff and directors will hold a public meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Tomales High to discuss the town's proposal for a new sewer-system operator.

If a new contractor is to operate the sewer system, NMWD directors believe Phillips & Associates, which serves several North Bay sewer systems, is the most appropriate choice.

Although Tomales ratepayers may have to pay an additional $24 per year if NMWD has to oversee the new contractor, Phillips' costs would decrease if the town decided to form its own water district, North Marin Manager Chris DeGabriele said.

In the long run, he said, Phillips' service could be less expensive than North Marin's.

Townspeople may have to wait six to eight months for the Marin Local Agency Formation Commission to approve a self-governing district, noted North Marin Director Dennis Rodoni. "But if Tomales decides not to form their own district," he added, "we'll be there to serve them."