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Board discusses sunken manholes, sewer acceptance and potential responsibility
Summary
Board members reported multiple manholes that have settled and debated whether liability rests with the sewer company that signed off on work or with the town for accepting infrastructure.
At the July 17 meeting Glendale board members raised concerns about sunken manholes in recent subdivisions and debated who is responsible for repairs.
A board member reported manholes up to a foot or more below grade in parts of town and said a previous contractor or sewer company had signed off on the sewer work when subdivisions were accepted. The board discussed whether the prior sign-off transfers responsibility to the sewer company or whether, after acceptance, the town bears repair costs.
Why it matters: Sunken manholes and settling streets can lead to drainage problems, emergency-repair costs and impacts on pavement work; determining financial responsibility affects whether the town or a private company pays for repairs.
Discussion highlights: - Board members said some manholes on Berry Hill and other locations had settled as much as a foot and needed to be raised. - One board member said a former employee who handled sewer work did not raise the manholes properly; another said the sewer company had signed off on the work. - The board discussed negotiating with the sewer company and said they may need to seek reimbursement if the company signed off improperly.
Board direction: Members instructed staff to investigate the history of the work, document the location and depths of affected manholes, and open discussions with the party that signed the sewer work off for possible remediation or billing.
Quotes: "They're 3 feet down. What's caused that?" a board member asked when describing settling on Berry Hill.
"I think it goes back to Glendale accepting it as is. I think in the end, it falls right on top of us," a different meeting participant said, summarizing one interpretation of liability.
Next steps: Staff will survey affected manholes, document the extent of settling and report back with options for remediation and potential cost recovery.
