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Scilly Hill Dam study halted after landowners deny access; board to investigate ownership and liability
Summary
A Winooski NRCD-funded study of Scilly Hill Dam ended after neighboring landowners refused engineers access; board members said the town will pause the project, research ownership and liability, and consider options to restart or find alternative funding if repair remains a goal.
Town staff told the Select Board the Winooski NRCD contractors were denied access to private property, forcing termination of the Scilly Hill Dam study and leaving the town without a completed report. An update from Winooski NRCD said engineers could not access the site and the project would be closed with contractors paid for work completed to date.
Board members debated next steps. Several members said they remain interested in a repair option but acknowledged that without property-owner cooperation the NRCD would not complete the study. The board agreed to assign staff and the conservation commission to research ownership and liability and to refrain from immediate action while discussions calm down with neighbors.
"They are refusing property access to the engineers...this marks the end of the road for Winooski NRCD in this project," board staff read from the NRCD update. Members told staff to pursue ownership records, liability analysis and options (including pursuing additional funding if the town decides it still wants a repair study).
