Selectman describes reservoir visit and alleges trapped turtles were shot; residents present private E. coli test results from downtown pond

Selectman John Thurston reported an on‑site inspection of the town reservoir on June 9 and told the board on July 1 that he found areas where containment could not hold an additional 13 inches of water. Thurston said he located multiple traps intended for beaver removal and described what he called inhumane treatment of turtles found in traps.

“Two large turtles were shot dead in the head and cast aside,” Thurston told the board, and he said a third was trapped and alive but suffering. He said conservation officers visited after being alerted and that the traps were subsequently removed.

Thurston framed the observations in the context of the town’s current drought restrictions and questioned whether the water‑restriction ban was justified without clearer reservoir‑containment evidence. He urged transparency and asked the town to explain its beaver‑control practices and the oversight of trapping activities.

Later in public comment Derek Brown, a resident, presented results from a privately funded Eurofins lab test of water collected from the parking‑lot pond near the town docks and said the single‑sample E. coli result exceeded the threshold that sometimes triggers beach‑closure recommendations. Brown asked that the lab report be attached to the meeting minutes; the board voted to attach the analysis.

Brown told the board he had collected the sample and that pollen and brown residue had been visible in the water. He urged dye testing, locating any leaks, and pursuing corrective work rather than only responding after the fact.

Board members repeatedly requested more detailed, written information from staff. Selectmen asked the town manager to coordinate with the public‑works director and with Woodard & Curran (the wastewater contractor) to clarify containment, access and any potential contamination sources. The chair observed that police or conservation officers may need to investigate alleged inhumane trapping and that staff should provide a factual account.

The board did not take disciplinary action or direct any specific corrective measure on July 1; it voted to attach Brown’s analytical report to the official minutes and to seek written replies from DPW and the water‑utility manager. The select board also directed staff to involve law enforcement or conservation officers if an investigation was warranted.

What’s next: the board asked staff to gather technical details on reservoir containment, trapping protocols and sewer/sump connections to the downtown drainage system and return with written answers; residents urged prompt dye or confirmatory testing.