LONDONDERRY, Vt. – The Londonderry Selectboard discussed options for the future of the Williams Dam at its Sept. 21 meeting. The failing dam reserves water in Mill Pond, an irreplaceable emergency water source for the town. It was reiterated that Ben Green, dam safety engineer from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, had previously warned the town that if they do not take action, the state would step in and would likely remove the dam at the town’s expense.
A proposal for a grant for an engineering design to remove the dam was recently posed to the board by Ron Rhodes from the Connecticut River Conservancy, and was presented at the meeting.
“Before we even start,” Chair Tom Cavanagh stated, “The town has not decided one way or another what we are doing with the dam. This is just an opportunity that was brought to me.”
Rhodes explained a potential merged grant opportunity with the Town of Weston if Londonderry decides to proceed with removal of the Williams Dam. Rhodes reported that Weston is putting together a proposal for the removal of their dam, and is applying for a grant from a private, anonymous organization, which requires a 20% match in funding.
The organization usually gives around $300,000, of which Weston will not need the full amount. Rhodes proposed allocating $50,000 of the grant funding to Londonderry, which could be put toward an engineering design plan for the removal of the dam. Rhodes confirmed that the organization already agreed it could divide the funding as such, and that Londonderry could not apply for the $50,000 individually.
Rhodes also clarified that the Connecticut River Conservancy has a five-year history with the national foundation, which typically only funds dam removals and culvert projects that are publicly owned. The organization has a primary focus on opening waterways to native species such as the local brook trout. Rhodes clarified that it would be highly unlikely that the organization would provide funding for floodplain relief, wetland protection, or dredging, as those options do not directly pertain to broader fish passage and migration.
The deadline to apply for the grant is in March, and awards would be dispersed in June, so the engineer would theoretically be on site in the fall of 2027. Rhodes confirmed that the selectboard can apply for this grant and still decide to opt out as late as May or June if the town does not want to move forward with removal. He added that he would need a decision from the town by February in order to add a budget line item for Londonderry on Weston’s grant application.
Frustrated citizens voiced their concerns that the Williams River Dam Committee had already spent a significant amount of time researching, and spent $30,000 of taxpayer money, in order to determine what it felt was best for the future of the dam. It was stressed that five people, who did not have the same opinion, voted 3-2 in favor of repairing the dam in July of 2024, and the selectboard has not moved forward with any decision since.
One citizen expressed, “After resources already invested, discussion should move forward with repair of the dam…If the board is considering removal, residents deserve to know why [it is going in a] different direction without including the recommendations from the town’s own process.”
Cavanagh reported that previous administrator Shane O’Keefe had spent many hours investigating grants for repair. Cavanagh said the only one O’Keefe had found was through Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which amounted to only $20,000, and the town would have to put the dam on the historic registry.
A few voiced that there are new grants available for repairing dams. One resident said she believed, ironically, that new information was made available the day of Londonderry’s meeting.
Many felt that dredging would be a viable option, allowing more water to collect in Mill Pond, though some countered that dredging too close to the failing dam only creates more pressure on it, or that the silt would continue to build up again over time.
The greatest concern of many in attendance is the fact that Mill Pond is the largest, and possibly the only major, water source for the Londonderry Fire Department. It was expressed that, “Mill Pond is always there,” on a main road, accessible to many fire trucks at any time. If a hydrant fails, a pipe can be run anywhere in the pond to get water in an emergency. Without the dam, the water source would not provide nearly enough to extinguish a fire, and the town would “depend solely on trucking water in” while “the size of a fire doubles every minute.”
Discussion of a bond vote for the dam, which would take place at the upcoming Town Meeting, was held, in order to fund repair or replacement of the dam, or dredging of the pond. “I think it’s important to recognize that the board is not taking a specific position and saying that we’re doing one or the other,” stated Prouty. “My perspective has been that this is a big enough and serious enough decision that we’re trying to gather the information and let the taxpayers and voters decide.”
Residents addressed that they would like to have an idea of how much it would realistically cost to dredge the pond. Cavanagh reported that he asked Hunter Excavating to provide a quote, and stated that David Chaves Excavating “wanted no part of it.” Townspeople asked that the board put the project out to bid to other, larger contractors equipped for the job.
It was added by another resident that while repair is more costly than dredging, it includes fixing the floodgate to be able to open and release sediment from the pond, eliminating the need for continuous dredging.
DeBois & King, the company that initially quoted the town for repairs or replacement, recently provided an updated quote to include inflation and contingencies. The new estimate was set at $1 million for repair, or $1.6 million for replacement. The board cautioned that the town can discuss repair and replacement, but they have to come up with the money to make that happen.
It was also discussed that the Williams River Dam Committee was disbanded after it concluded its research and gave its recommendation to repair the dam. Prouty and many community members were in support of reconvening the committee. Those who are passionate can study the new grants that may be available to repair the dam, and organize all of the facts in a manner that is digestible to the public.
The board and town residents all agreed that it is time to do something with the dam. A decision needs to be made, and all of the facts need to be presented in order for everyone to make their best-informed vote. Further discussion was postponed until the next meeting.
Previous studies and reports on the dam are available on the town’s website, at www.londonderryvt.gov/government/select_board/williams_dam.php.
On other agenda items, Pamela Spaulding requested that the board have a house on Winhall Hollow Road demolished due to its state of disrepair. The board agreed to have fire and safety personnel look at the building and potentially condemn it if they see fit.
The board approved the blasting of a ledge for the Spring Hill Road Culvert project, given that they are running out of time to complete the project and be out of the stream by Oct. 1. Blasting is more efficient than drilling, and furthermore, in some cases blasting is still necessary after drilling, which would cost the town more money.
Short-term rental fee structure changes were approved by the board. The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss a pending or probable civil litigation or a prosecution involving the short-term rental ordinance; and negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options regarding the North Village wastewater project.
The Londonderry Selectboard meets on the first and third Mondays of each month, at 6 p.m., at the town office and on Zoom.