Representatives of Dunkin' and several town economic-development volunteers met to discuss a proposed municipal sewer extension to service Exit 10 businesses, a project officials said is ready in design but stalled without a bond vote and broader business participation.

"When you continue to be on septic in a commercial building like that, it definitely adds limitations to who you can lease to and what kind of businesses can operate," said Jim Clifford, identified in the meeting as being from Dunkin' Donuts, describing operational and leasing constraints at his property tied to on-site septic systems. "For the long run... there's a, operational value and also an investment value to the company to make that happen if we can."

Town volunteers and property owners said the core infrastructure — including getting a line under the Merrimack River and a pump station behind Southern New Hampshire University — is designed but not built because the necessary bond has not passed. "The raceway is painted and... now we just need the cars to make it work," one participant said, urging outreach to major retail property owners around Exit 10 including Walmart, Bass Pro, Market Basket and Target to spread cost and make the extension feasible.

Why it matters: Officials and business representatives said sewer availability would increase developability and property values in a key commercial corridor. Connecting shopping plazas now on septic, they said, would reduce recurring maintenance costs, support a wider range of tenants and unlock development on presently underused parcels.

What was discussed: Participants reviewed the technical and financial hurdles that previously made a project infeasible for single property owners, including a long run required to tie into a pump station. Clifford and others said their firms would consider financial participation if a formal proposal with estimated contributions were presented. "We almost need to sort of get a proposal and then let us think it through and talk about it," Clifford said.

Project status and next steps: Committee members said a $10,000,000 bond had been approved in concept in past cycles but did not move forward; organizers said passing a bond now would allow construction of the pump station and initial trunk line. The group identified outreach milestones: an informational session planned for Nov. 4 and suggested business outreach in October so that, if the bond passes, the town could solicit proposals and confirm participant contributions by March.

Constraints and uncertainties: Speakers emphasized that the per-developer cost depends on how many businesses join the project and on phasing decisions. Several businesses — notably large retailers and franchise owners — have differing water-use patterns and therefore different incentives to join. Participants repeatedly said exact contribution amounts were "not specified" and would depend on the formal engineering proposal and phasing.

Quotes from other participants included an observation that some shopping-center septic systems are being pumped weekly or monthly: "Walmart's weekly," one attendee said of pumping schedules, underscoring maintenance costs that sewer service could remove.

Outreach and contacts: Attendees agreed to collect contact information for property owners and large commercial tenants in the Exit 10 area and to ask the Sewer Commission and Town Council to prioritize the route under the river and pump-station construction. Jim Clifford offered to share contacts he has for Irving and other operators.

Ending: Organizers framed the immediate task as outreach to secure enough business participants to make the capital cost palatable to property owners and voters. No formal vote occurred; participants left with assignments to compile contacts and pursue a coordinated business outreach before the Nov. 4 informational session.