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Residents and selectman press town for answers after private water test and allegations of killed turtles at reservoir
Summary
Residents presented a private laboratory test alleging E. coli above the single-sample beach-recommendation threshold at the town docks; a selectman reported dead turtles and questioned use of kill traps at the reservoir, prompting the board to request written follow-up from DPW and the wastewater consultant and to attach the lab report to the minutes.
Multiple residents and a selectman pressed the board for immediate action after a string of water-quality and wildlife concerns. During public input, Derek Brown said he had privately contracted lab testing (Eurofins) of water at the town docks/parking-lot discharge and reported an E. coli result of "2.60," above the single-sample beach-recommendation threshold of 1.58 he cited. "It is time for action," Brown told the board and asked that his analytical report be attached to the meeting minutes; the board voted to attach the report.
Separately, Selectman Thurston presented on a June 9 field investigation at the town reservoir; he said he found two large turtles that had been shot and a third trapped and struggling, and he described traps that he characterized as kill traps rather than live-release traps. "The two large turtles were shot dead in the head and cast aside," Thurston said, pressing that the town explain why kill traps were in use and whether the water restriction and reservoir management are justified. Several other residents echoed concerns about visible brown residue and ongoing drainage near the docks and urged testing and corrective action.
Responses and board action: the Select Board asked staff to forward the private lab report to relevant staff and to include it in the record; members asked the town manager to get written responses from the DPW director and Woodard & Curran (wastewater consultant) on containment, access, and any trapping practices. The board said police and conservation officers had been notified previously and that traps were removed after a Fish & Game visit. No formal determination of responsibility for the turtle deaths was made at the meeting; board members asked for documentation and staff follow-up.
