Woodstock selectmen hear public hearings on two infrastructure grants, approve DOT sidewalk agreement, park permit and donations

WOODSTOCK — The Woodstock Board of Selectmen opened and closed public hearings Tuesday on two funding items for town infrastructure and proceeded to approve a New Hampshire Department of Transportation permit agreement, a reduced park-usage fee for a college film project, and two donations to the town’s firefighter fund.

In the meeting’s first public hearing, the chair described a grant from the Overwatch Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, saying the organization "was founded in 2022" and that "the town of Woodstock was fortunate to receive a grant in the amount of up to $32,264.60 for the wastewater facility." The board then closed that hearing with no further public questions recorded.

The board immediately opened a second public hearing on $19,046 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received through Grafton County. The funding is intended to be applied to a planned Moore Street water-main relocation once that project begins, the chair said; the hearing was closed after no public comment was offered.

Following the hearings, the selectmen moved through routine and other agenda items. They voted to accept a municipal sidewalk agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation covering sidewalk work adjacent to Route 112 (permit referenced as DOT ROW A000443). A motion to accept the municipal sidewalk agreement was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The board approved two donations to the Woodstock Firefighter Fund: $1,564 from T-shirt sales at the Woodstock Inn and a $200 disbursement to the American Legion’s spelling fund in memory of Rocky Jones. Both items were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Selectmen also approved a Cascade Park usage permit for college students to film on June 17 and agreed to reduce the standard usage fee by 50% (bringing the fee to $150). The board asked applicants to be reminded that the park would remain open to the public during filming and that accepted dates must be confirmed if scheduling conflicts arise.

During public participation, residents raised operational questions following a recent Main Street water-main break. Speakers pressed town staff on whether frontline workers who assist with water repairs should be encouraged to pursue formal water-operator licensing and training—a conversation that included mention of training opportunities through Granite State Rural Water and the New Hampshire Water Works Association. Public works staff acknowledged an after-action meeting was held with Mike Welch, Scott and the contractor Wade in the Water to identify improvements and said training on locating equipment and use of new devices provided under a grant is scheduled.

A resident also raised concerns about inconsistent statements from town staff regarding whether the state required specific traffic signs after the water-main incident; the selectmen apologized for any miscommunication and said they would review minutes and follow up, and offered to contact the DOT engineer if the resident wanted a direct clarification.

The meeting concluded with a vote to enter a nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3, II(a) and (c); the board indicated it would not return to open session afterward except to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Municipal sidewalk agreement with N.H. DOT (Route 112, DOT ROW A000443): motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. (See provenance: topicintro/topfinish segments for the DOT agreement.)

- Cascade Park usage permit (college filming, June 17) with 50% usage-fee reduction to $150: motion made, seconded and approved by voice vote. (Provenance included.)

- Donation to Woodstock Firefighter Fund: accept $1,564 from Woodstock Inn T-shirt sales: motion made, seconded and approved by voice vote. (Provenance included.)

- Payment of $200 to American Legion spelling fund in memory of Rocky Jones from the Woodstock Firefighter Fund: motion made, seconded and approved by voice vote. (Provenance included.)

- Opened and closed a public hearing on an Overwatch Foundation cybersecurity grant (up to $32,264.60) for the wastewater facility; public hearing opened and closed, no explicit acceptance vote recorded in the transcript. (Provenance included.)

- Opened and closed a public hearing on $19,046 in ARPA funds from Grafton County to apply to Moore Street water-main relocation; public hearing opened and closed, no explicit acceptance vote recorded in the transcript. (Provenance included.)

What the board discussed

The most substantive policy discussion recorded was about post-incident response and workforce training after a Main Street water-main break. A resident urged the town to offer formal training and licenses for public-works personnel who regularly perform water repairs, noting low costs for Grade 1 courses and partial DES funding reported by NH Water Works Association. Public-works staff and others said an after-action meeting had identified steps to improve mapping and locating of mains and that training on new locating equipment — provided through a grant described earlier — is planned.

Other items included routine housekeeping (approval and signature of minutes, clarification votes revising prior abstentions), preliminary tax-deeding notices scheduled to go out on 04/18, and future pavement work on Main Street for which the town plans to issue an RFP this spring.

Ending

The selectmen said they would follow up on communications about signage related to the water-main break and check meeting minutes and DOT engineer records if residents request further clarification. The board then voted to enter a nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3, II(a) and (c) and adjourned the public portion of the meeting at 5:31 p.m.