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After volunteer culvert work, Bow board limits drainage actions on Class 6 roads, directs policy rewrite
Summary
DPW director Tim Sweeney reported an unauthorized culvert disturbance while on vacation and the board voted 4–1 to impose a temporary moratorium on drainage work on town property and Class 6 roads (except DPW emergency activities) until staff returns with a policy at the Sept. 9 meeting.
Tim Sweeney, Bow’s public works director, told the Select Board on Aug. 12 that the public works department did not authorize machinery for recent culvert work and that a volunteer’s actions disturbed a lower concrete pipe and a protected beaver deceiver.
Sweeney described the department’s standard approach: attempt hand maintenance at least three times, use beaver deceivers (a screened box blocking debris while allowing flow) and avoid mechanical excavation in flowing water unless there is an emergency or permit. He said: “The public works department did not authorize any machinery to be used for any culvert maintenance,” and described how, when machinery was used on a lower concrete pipe, the town later had to sleeve the failing pipe with ADS plastic after the concrete pipe failed.
Board members and staff discussed the limits of town authority on unmaintained Class 6 roads and recent confusion about who may authorize work. Members proposed a short moratorium while staff and counsel draft a clearer permitting and notification process. At the motion of a board member, the board voted 4–1 to put a moratorium on drainage work on town property/Class 6 roads, with an explicit exception for DPW emergency activities; the moratorium was to remain in place until the board reviews a proposed policy on Sept. 9.
Sweeney and other board members recommended codifying an excavation/permit system for Class 6 roads that would require an excavation permit and a bond when outside parties use a road for logging or other access. The board directed staff to return with draft language that accounts for recent state law changes affecting Class 6 usage and for advance notice and involvement of abutters where appropriate.
Next steps: staff (Tim, Carrie and town counsel) will draft a Class 6/excavation policy and a beaver‑management/maintenance procedure for the Sept. 9 meeting. The moratorium does not prevent DPW emergency repairs.
