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Planning board discusses aging detention basins, unused bond funds and need for maintenance
Summary
Board members and staff discussed maintenance shortfalls for detention basins from older site-plan reviews, the challenge of accessing funds and possible transfers to highway or another department for upkeep.
Members of the Town of Templeton Planning Board spent part of the May 13 meeting discussing a recurring town issue: aging stormwater detention basins from prior site-plan approvals that require maintenance but have deteriorated.
Planning staff reported that some retention/maintenance accounts date back decades, that some retention monies had been dispersed approximately five years ago, and that records are incomplete. Board members and staff said many basins have grown trees and brush on slopes, making routine mowing and sediment removal more difficult; several basins now appear forested and would require heavy equipment and tree removal to restore designed function.
Staff suggested options: identify the responsible party and enforce maintenance, authorize the highway department or another town department to perform cleanup using available bond funds, or consolidate older bond funds into a maintenance account to contract necessary work. The planning-enforcement officer (Mr. Hanks) was described as the official who issues enforcement direction; staff said they would research the list of older developments and the status of bonds.
No formal action was taken; the board directed staff to review records and follow up on which basins remain the responsibility of private owners and which could be maintained by town departments if funds are available or reallocated.
