LONDONDERRY, Vt. – At the Aug. 3 meeting, Londonderry Town Administrator Aileen Tulloch announced that the South Londonderry Library would be the alternative physical location for posting agendas and hearing notices. Tulloch also reported that tax bills were mailed, and taxes are due on Oct. 1. Proposals from Sanderson Trucking & Excavation were approved for culverts on Little Pond Road and Spring Hill Road, for $59,000 and $68,500 respectively.
Some members of the public then questioned the town sewer system projects and related ARPA funding deadlines. Tulloch confirmed that the town needs to spend the ARPA funds for the South Village wastewater project by Nov. 30, but that the system itself does not need to be completed by that date. She also clarified that the North Village project is separate, with its own allocated ARPA funding, which would need to be spent by Aug. 30, 2027. Tulloch and the selectboard outlined that the North Village project is “in a holding pattern” while the town proceeds with Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the South Village system.
The board moved to hear from Jason Wilbur, who resides on the corner of Under the Mountain Road and Flying Squirrel Lane. Wilbur and his family requested that the town discontinue Flying Squirrel Lane, expressing that it is in poor condition, resembling a “dry riverbed.” Wilbur wanted to take stewardship of the road, saying he’d like to bring the road up to standard “for biking, cycling, horseback riding, walking, and all those other things.”
Board member Taylor Prouty addressed Wilbur, explaining that Flying Squirrel Lane is a connecting Class 4 road, and that there may be future possibilities and uses for the road. Prouty also relayed that the town typically doesn’t opt to give up roads, and believed that upon Wilbur’s request, Flying Squirrel Lane could potentially be better maintained by the town. “Thats just one opinion, which is why it’s important to have this discussion,” Prouty stated. Another option might be to request changing the classification of the road, Prouty added, which would result in more frequent town maintenance.
Chad Stoddard, of the Londonderry Planning Commission, transitioned to discuss the Williams Dam. Stoddard believes the town needs to move forward with the dam repair or replacement, which has been discussed on several occasions in recent years. Prouty expressed that “the brakes went on” when the selectboard heard from enough people that they needed more information. The voting was paused so that further studies could be conducted. “Are we at the point of voting or still discussing?” Prouty questioned.
Chair Tom Cavanagh explained that dredging the entire pond is estimated at $2.5 million. Dam repair costs total approximately $500,000, or higher if the town opts to fully replace the dam. In total, Cavanah said, expenses for the project could be upwards of $5 million. Prouty noted that another option was to dredge just above the dry hydrant, which would prove to be “two very different numbers” for the dredging budget.
Prouty continued, stating that Ron Rhodes from Connecticut River Conservancy had previously advised against the town dredging the whole pond, because if there were another flood, the whole thing would likely fill with silt again. “That’s not a good use of taxpayer money,” stated Prouty.
Alternatively, the town could remove the dam. Cavanagh cautioned that if the dam is removed, the town would no longer be eligible to receive any clean-water funding.
Stoddard expressed, “It’s time for the town to vote…let’s let the town make the decision…then at least I have a chance to vote on it.”
Some members of the public wondered whether, if the $5 million bond vote fails, the town would push the issue down the road or remove the dam. It was confirmed that, provided the state has rated the dam as low as it can be designated, the state would likely remove it if the town does not take any action, and the town would still have to pay for the cost of removal. It was also noted that the repairs would need to be up to state standards, otherwise the state would likely still come in and remove the dam.
Tulloch said that the bond would likely go to vote in March.
Land-acquisition task force members were then appointed: Chad Stoddard from planning commission, Nancy Jensen from the housing commission, Irwin Kuperberg from the conservation commission, Taylor Prouty from the selectboard, and Jen Greenfield from the community.
New bylaw amendments have been proposed by the planning commission. A public hearing will be held on Aug. 17, at 6 p.m., at the town office, before the changes can be read and adopted.
The Londonderry Selectboard meets on the first and third Mondays each month, at 6 p.m., at the town office and on Zoom. The Sept. 7 meeting was postponed to Tuesday, Sept. 8, due to the Labor Day holiday.