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Neighbors complain of poor notice as North Elmore BMP construction proceeds; DEM-funded project defended by engineers
Summary
Residents said they received no mailed notice and described construction as an eyesore; town engineers and Weston & Sampson said the BMP (partly funded by a DEM grant) is designed to reduce bacteria and improve stormwater outfalls, and the council continued the matter to September for follow-up.
James Reardon of Weston & Sampson engineers briefed the council on a best‑management practice being built on North Elmore Avenue to address stormwater and water‑quality problems identified in a 2017 Winnasquattucket River study. He said the town received roughly $193,000 in DEM grant funding to design and construct the priority sites and described the North Elmore design as a cascading series of tiered ponds that will reduce bacteria and improve water quality in the Winnasquattucket River.
"This BMP that's being proposed at North Elmore is actually one of the most cost‑beneficial," Reardon said, noting the project was identified in the town's MS4/stormwater program and that DEM funded design and construction elements.
Neighbors testified they had not received mailed notice, did not find plans posted on the town website and complained of heavy machinery, rock chipping and a visual eyesore that interfered with working from home. Several residents asked why they had not been directly notified and requested clearer signage and a description of who is paying for the project and how the finished site will look.
Town staff and consultants said the project appeared in annual stormwater reports and in the Valley Breeze public notice; they acknowledged enhanced outreach might have been appropriate and described plans to post documents and prepare landscaping concepts. The council voted to continue the matter to the September meeting to allow staff to confirm posted plans, provide additional outreach and report on project timeline and maintenance details.
Why it matters: The project is grant‑funded stormwater work intended to reduce bacteria entering a local river and to address town MS4 permit obligations. Residents' concerns about notice and site maintenance created political pressure for additional transparency and engagement.
What happens next: Staff will confirm whether plans are posted on the town website, provide neighbors with project drawings and a timeline, and return with an update at the September meeting.
