Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Roads topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge state action after Sportsman/Suzanne Road flooding; board to follow up
Summary
Residents described repeated flooding that deposited mud into homes and driveways on Sportsman and Suzanne drives and urged the Select Board to press the state for a hydraulic study and durable repairs. The board said it will follow up with the state and report findings at the next meeting.
Tammy Elias, a resident of Suzanne Drive, opened public comments by describing a flood that swept mud, rocks and debris across the road and into her yard and driveway. “Sportsman Road overflowed again Sunday night, wrecking the road all the way down to my house,” Elias said, asking the board for a long-term fix rather than repeated cleanups.
Several other residents described basement and well contamination, packed mud against foundations and repeated cleanup costs. The board and residents discussed culvert size, realignment of the brook and jurisdictional limits: members said culverts larger than 36 inches and any plan to realign a brook will likely require the state agency (Agency of Natural Resources or its contractors) to review and approve the work.
The road commissioner noted the town has begun compiling a hydraulic study and emphasized state review is likely needed before construction. The chair said the town will “see if we can get an answer for next meeting” but cautioned the state timeline could take months. Residents pressed the board to pursue a cost-sharing solution with the adjacent jurisdiction and to make sure property owners are notified in advance of any ground-disturbing work.
Next steps: the board directed the road commissioner to follow up with the state hydraulic study, to invite the state representative or contractor to the next meeting if possible, and to report estimated timelines and preliminary cost ranges at the following select board meeting.
