Dalton board weighs town priorities; majority favors sewer infiltration work for grant pursuit

Town Manager Eric Hagen opened a June 22 discussion asking the Select Board to rank town projects so staff could target grant-writing and planning work. The list included an ADA accessibility project at Town Hall (elevator or entrance work), sewer infiltration remediation, bylaw/zoning updates, a new public-safety facility, digital records and ClearGov budget transparency.

Tom, presenting draft financial and operating-budget policy prepared by the Capital Planning Committee, said the policy package was produced to satisfy prerequisites requested by the Collins Center and incorporated guidance from the Division of Local Services and examples from other towns: “This is one of four policies required by the Collins Center,” he told the board.

Board members discussed trade-offs and timelines. Some members said sewer infiltration work offers measurable fiscal payback given rising sewer rates; others emphasized the town’s long-standing lack of full ADA access to Town Hall and the reputational and legal risk that creates. After discussion the board signaled a majority preference to pursue sewer infiltration remediation as the project to target with an initial one-page Collins Center grant application to develop detailed engineering and cost estimates that would support later federal funding requests. Several members reiterated that ADA accessibility and the public-safety facility remain top priorities that will continue to be advanced through planning and grant-seeking.

Hagen said he will collate individual board rankings and present a consolidated priority spreadsheet; he also said he will prepare a one-page application for the Collins Center focused on the agreed target. Board members suggested staff pursue both Clean Water Revolving Fund and congressionally directed spending routes where appropriate, and said they will coordinate engineering studies and cost estimates before pursuing major grant opportunities.