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Select Board approves $10,000 town match for Red Brook watershed project
Summary
The board approved a $10,000 noncapital-reserve contribution to a DES-approved Red Brook watershed remediation project administered by Wentworth Watershed Association, with conditions on reporting and criteria development for future spending.
The Wolfeboro Select Board voted April 1 to contribute $10,000 from the water resource noncapital reserve to match a DES grant and support administration and engineering for a Red Brook remediation project identified as a top phosphorus source.
Julie Brown and representatives of the Wentworth Watershed Association explained the project’s history and its place in the town’s watershed management plans. Brown said the association had helped with prior grant matches and that this project had been vetted through the town’s watershed plan and DES processes.
Board members asked for clarity on scope and precedent for spending public money on work that sits partially on private property. Staff and the association noted that prior projects had used town staff time as part of the town match; this request asks for a modest cash match to replace staff time in the absence of a town planner. “If we don’t give the money, the project will go forward because DES approved it,” one board member said, noting the funding request pays for administration and match rather than construction alone.
After discussion the board approved the $10,000 contribution on a roll call (Thurston No; Murray Yes; Senecal Yes; DeShais Yes; O’Brien No). Members also directed staff to work with Wolfeboro Waters to develop written criteria for use of the noncapital water reserve fund and to return recommendations to the board.
The motion authorizes staff to record the appropriation and requires Wolfeboro Waters (the town’s watershed partner) to present formal criteria for reserve use, including project prioritization and cost/benefit documentation.
