Roberts: Selectboard will support DES emergency permit for beaver-dam but cannot spend town funds

Roberts said the group contacted DES to pursue an emergency permit to address a problematic beaver dam and that the town administrator provided contact information. Roberts said the board "agreed to support whatever needs to be done to correct or mitigate the issue," adding that "the only factor is that the town cannot expend any money for this issue." Suzanne said she would research ownership information for the property that would allow access to the site.

Why it matters: A beaver dam that creates flooding or infrastructure risk can require fast action; securing an emergency permit from DES is a prerequisite for authorized corrective work. The board’s refusal to commit town funds shifts responsibility for payment to the property owners, grant sources, or state assistance if available.

What was said and decided: The Selectboard voiced support for permitting and remediation steps but set a clear financial limit: no town funds will be used to pay for the corrective work. The transcript records no formal vote to expend funds; instead, the board directed administrative follow-up to identify the property owner and to contact DES. No timeline or cost estimate was provided at the meeting.

Next steps: Suzanne will research owner information to secure access; the board will rely on DES guidance and on non-municipal funding to move remediation forward. The board did not adopt a funding plan or schedule at the meeting.