Board reviews MS4 obligations, schedules April deep-dive on stormwater tasks

Town staff summarized the town's MS4 (municipal stormwater) obligations and urged the board to plan outreach and staff training ahead of an annual report due April 1.

Jeanette told the board that "the only other MS4 milestone that's coming up is that by April 1 that I have to submit a report," and she outlined elements the annual report must include, such as the number of stormwater complaints, outreach methods used and outfall inspections. She recommended the board identify public events appropriate for outreach and suggested the clerk (Gina) could take on some outreach tasks previously handled by staff.

Board members asked for clarity about routine maintenance responsibilities, distinguishing daily tasks (for example, inlet checks) from periodic detention-pond inspections. Jeanette noted an auditor in July had been "fairly satisfied" with town maintenance plans but stressed documentation and training: the board should confirm which staff activities are daily, weekly or quarterly and ensure staff have the needed training. Members discussed privately owned retention ponds as a specific issue: a board member cited a past problem at Trail Creek where a retention pond was not maintained and a wetland grew; the group agreed to investigate who holds maintenance responsibility and to monitor changes.

The board asked staff to circulate Jeanette's materials in advance of the April meeting so members can prepare for a focused MS4 review. No funding actions were taken during the meeting.