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Selectmen discuss possibility of asking state to surrender nearby dam to town
Summary
Board members and residents raised the possibility of asking the state to surrender ownership of a local dam so the town could control draw‑down and maintenance; staff was directed to begin outreach to state contacts and town engineers for assessments and to consider a public hearing on the subject.
During selectmen reports and public input, members discussed ongoing delays in state reviews of local dams and whether the town should ask the state to surrender ownership. Staff reported that DES had delayed action pending further studies; selectmen said the town could consider asking the state to transfer responsibility rather than wait for state action that might include a seasonal draw‑down.
Board members cautioned that accepting a dam would place full liability on the town and that any transfer would require engineering assessment, an estimate of remediation costs, and a legal review of responsibilities. A selectman proposed starting informal outreach to identify state contacts and to determine whether the state would entertain surrendering the dam. The board agreed that staff should contact town engineers for technical input, request relevant state studies and regulatory materials, and consider a public hearing to gauge community support before any formal acceptance.
Residents at public input expressed concern about the potential groundwater, aquifer recharge and well‑water impacts of a dam draw‑down, and some offered volunteer assistance with outreach and community organizing. The board asked staff to begin collecting documentation, contact appropriate state officials, and report back with options and estimated costs.
