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Town manager details Narrow River dredging permit timeline; funding not secured
Summary
Town Manager Jim reported that the council's previously selected dredging option will move toward permit submission this month, abutter comments will be incorporated and the town has no current funding source for dredging.
Town Manager Jim reported on March 17 that the Narrow River dredging study is moving toward regulatory permitting but that the town currently lacks an identified funding source for dredging work.
Jim said the previous council selected the desired dredging option on Oct. 7, 2024; that selection was a prerequisite to preparing a permit application. Fourth Engineering has worked on the project since October and the firm plans to distribute the draft permit to abutters including the Dunes Club and the Audubon Society for comment before submitting the application to regulatory agencies by the end of March. Jim said the permit review could take up to six months and regulatory agencies might require modifications after approval.
If the permit is approved, Jim said the town would publish an RFP and bring a qualified bidder before the council for approval, "contingent upon funding." He said the town has submitted requests for congressional directed spending (congressional earmark) for the project but at present no municipal funding source is in place.
Councilors asked whether they would receive a copy of the draft; Jim answered they would. The manager cautioned that the option had to be on hand before the permit step could proceed and that engineering staff would expedite revisions based on abutter feedback.
No formal action or vote on dredging funding occurred during the March 17 meeting; the update outlined the permitting schedule and next administrative steps.
