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Resident reports plugged Mill Street culvert; DPW schedules inspection, temporary clearing and later replacement
Summary
A Mill Street resident told the Board of Selectmen of backyard flooding and basements affected by a plugged culvert; Public Works staff said crews will inspect and attempt a temporary opening immediately and plan a replacement and camera inspection when water levels allow.
A Mill Street homeowner told the Milford Board of Selectmen on May 27 that a plugged culvert has left water standing in his backyard and in neighbors’ basements for about two months; Public Works staff said crews will return to the site, attempt temporary clearing and inspect the pipe with a camera, and plan a replacement when conditions allow.
Resident Steve Bishop described repeated contact with town staff and engineers and said the problem has left “water across our back lawn for, like, 2 months now.” His wife, Shelly Bishop White, asked that the town provide more transparent updates to residents and asked whether a camera inspection has been performed.
Public Works Director Leo Lessard told the board DPW crews have visited the site multiple times and used suction to relieve what staff believe to be beaver‑related blockage. “We’re gonna try to stuff it with a pole to see if we can open it up temporarily, let the water go down,” Lessard said, and added crews planned to return the next day to continue work. He said once debris is cleared the department will run a camera through the pipe to determine whether the obstruction is a beaver dam or an internal culvert problem.
Lessard said the culvert likely will be replaced when water levels drop later in summer; he estimated the pipe appears to be about a 24‑inch square and said DPW would likely install a 24‑ to 30‑inch ADS pipe with protective cages on each end to reduce re‑blocking. The department also planned to clear nearby debris behind a mobilestation property during the same work.
Selectman David Friel pressed for a department policy to ensure residents receive timely follow‑up after a service request; Lessard said staff typically responds quickly and will look at formalizing a follow‑up email or notification process so callers know the issue is on the work list.
No formal board action was taken; the meeting record shows DPW directed to inspect the culvert, attempt a temporary clearing and provide updates to the residents.
