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Design work for Meadoway Community School wetland restoration to advance; applicant role undecided
Summary
The group discussed advancing a 30% wetland restoration design next to Meadoway Community School toward 100% design (estimated $34,500), with staff planning a 60% milestone and a site visit; Merck is not expected to be the applicant and Southlake Quisp likely will serve as applicant for the next phase.
Staff outlined plans to move a previously completed 30% design for a wetland restoration project on a 150-acre parcel adjacent to Meadoway Community School in Pollitt to final (100%) design. Speaker 1 said the parcel is "a 150 acre parcel that is right next to the Meadoway Community School in Pollitt" and proposed a 60% milestone report and a $34,500 budget (with professional services at $30,000) to complete design and implementation planning.
The final design is expected to include wetland restoration and possible floodplain reconnection; staff noted trails and a boardwalk are part of the site plan and that some berm removal and earthwork will be needed. Speaker 4 said Dory of Arrowwood is preparing the wetland permit application and that there is a site visit scheduled for tomorrow.
Conservation and easement considerations arose in the discussion: Speaker 9 flagged the need to ensure work complies with the parcel’s conservation easement and suggested coordination with Donald Campbell at VLT (Vermont Land Trust) to safeguard easement terms. Speaker 3 confirmed project managers will reach out to stewards and noted a VORAC grant that supports the boardwalk, indicating multiple moving parts and deadlines.
Speakers clarified applicant and subgrantee roles. When asked whether Merck would be the applicant, staff replied "They don't wanna be the subgrantee for the next phase. So it looks like the Southlake Quisp will need to be the applicant." Participants said it is sometimes necessary for the quisp organization to act as applicant where local NGOs or watershed groups lack capacity.
Next steps: staff will continue design work, conduct the site visit, coordinate with VLT and other stewards to ensure easement compliance, and prepare for a short special meeting to approve the next phase once legal notice requirements are satisfied. No formal vote occurred at this session.
