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Public Works outlines major capital projects; PAYT revenue decline raises funding questions
Summary
Public Works Director Seth MacLean reported a nearly-complete Fire & Rescue station design, the Cold Springs water treatment project funded in part by grants and a 10-year loan, and several bridge and roadway projects; staff also flagged a 29% decline in large-case PAYT bag sales and a 23% decline in small-case sales, creating a revenue shortfall for solid-waste disposal.
Public Works Director Seth MacLean told the joint Select Board and Budget Committee that the department is advancing multiple capital projects while managing operations across water, wastewater, roads, parks and public buildings.
MacLean said the Fire & Rescue Station design is about 98% complete and on schedule. He described the Cold Springs Water Treatment Plant project as nearing completion in early summer, funded roughly 54% by grant dollars with the remainder to be covered by a 10‑year loan. He said the department is preparing for Grove and Elm Street bridge refurbishments, Pine Street reconstruction planning, a lead-service inventory, sludge dewatering at the wastewater plant and several other infrastructure tasks.
Staff described a re-sequenced fleet replacement plan (a six‑wheeler deferred to FY28) and said that capital reserve savings have allowed the town to fund some projects without lease purchase or bonding. MacLean credited recent asset-inventory work with informing the multi-year capital plan and thanked volunteer committee members who assisted with utility asset assessments.
On solid-waste financing, Recycling Manager Darren Smith and MacLean said sales of Pay‑As‑You‑Throw (PAYT) bags have fallen substantially—about 29% fewer large-case sales and 23% fewer small-case sales—reducing the fee revenue that underwrites disposal operations. Staff said the decline reflects more sustainable resident behavior but creates a structural shortfall for the program and recommended a program review and possible pricing changes; committee members said the Recycling Advisory Committee should develop recommendations.
MacLean also noted ongoing monitoring associated with the New Hampshire Ball Bearing (NHBB) plume; he and finance staff said the Town’s contract funds for monitoring will be exhausted in about two fiscal years and that the town received approximately $30,000 back from NHBB as part of remediation efforts. Planning staff said brownfields funding supported remediation at the Toadstool site and that air-quality testing met safety standards.
Staff said the wastewater treatment budget must now include PFAS testing for influent and sludge, described as required by the EPA; testing was scheduled to begin after the meeting date and results were not yet available. MacLean and utilities staff emphasized that most water and sewer costs are covered through user fees rather than property taxes.
Committee members asked for more detailed dollar estimates on some projects; staff replied that the dynamic nature of repairs and project scopes makes precise forecasting difficult and that additional details would be provided during CIP and warrant article discussions.
No formal votes on Public Works capital projects were taken at this meeting.
