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Malcom Tileston disputes culvert ownership; selectboard to place more stone to reduce future blockages
Summary
Resident Malcom Tileston said a clogged culvert under his driveway is town property and should be maintained by the town; the Selectboard said state RSA guidance indicates the homeowner is responsible, but agreed to have stone put in the ditches to limit future blockages after cleaning the culvert this one time.
Resident Malcom Tileston told the Selectboard that a backed-up culvert under his driveway should be maintained by the town because he had been told years earlier it was town property. The board responded that under state RSA guidance (specific citation not provided in the meeting minutes) the culvert beneath Mr. Tileston's driveway is the homeowner's responsibility. The minutes record that the town cleaned the culvert on this occasion but will not undertake ongoing maintenance of the culvert itself.
As a practical mitigation step the board agreed to have someone inspect the location and place additional stone in the ditches adjacent to the culvert to help manage runoff and reduce the risk of future blockages. All parties expressed hope that the added material would reduce recurrence.
The Selectboard's position is recorded as a statutory interpretation in the minutes, but the minutes do not include a specific RSA number or a written order; the action taken at the meeting was limited to a one-time cleaning and a direction to add stone in the ditches.
