Waterville Valley Town Meeting Approves $37M Wastewater Bond, Updates Noise Ordinance

On March 16, 2023, Waterville Valley residents gathered for a six-hour Town Meeting to vote on 36 warrant articles, addressing major financial commitments, infrastructure projects, and regulatory updates. Key decisions included a $37 million wastewater treatment bond, a rejected Valley Sanctuary land sale, and an amendment to the town’s noise ordinance. Below is a comprehensive summary of all voted articles, with detailed coverage of significant items.

Podcast Review

Election Results and Zoning Amendments

Moderator Patty Furgal opened with the March 15 election results (link). Article 1 elected Tim Smith, Lori Fernandes (clerk/treasurer), and Furgal to school board roles, and Wendy Rathgeber (selectman), Terry Waite (town clerk), Deborah Wanger (trustee of trust funds), and Rebecca Hastings (library trustee) for three-year terms. Articles 2-4, voted by ballot, addressed zoning: Article 2 replaced “church” with “place of worship” in the zoning ordinance, passing 118-37; Article 3 exempted political advertising from sign regulations, passing 78-76; Article 4 proposed defining “concert” as “a music performance in front of a live audience, advertised in advance,” failing 65-90. Turnout was 155 despite a snowstorm.

Major Infrastructure Bonds

Article 5 authorized a $37 million bond for new wastewater collection and treatment facilities, including design, engineering, permitting, land acquisition, and relocating the waste transfer station (link). Recommended 3-0 by the select board, it passed with a three-fifths majority via secret ballot, aligning with the Capital Improvements Program (CIP).

Article 6 approved $1.5 million for engineering, repairs, site work, drainage, permitting, and repaving of town-maintained roads and sidewalks (link). Fully funded through bonds, with potential federal/state aid, it was recommended 3-0 by the select board. Town Manager Mark Decoteau tied it to a six-year CIP, targeting roads like Tripoli Road and West Branch Road. Discussion was brief, and it passed with a three-fifths majority via secret ballot alongside Articles 5 and 7, reflecting infrastructure priority.

Article 7 raised $227,200 via bonds to purchase land (Map 103, Lot 23) for future recreational activities (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed with a three-fifths majority, securing space for community use.

Technology and Safety Funding

Article 8 appropriated $100,000 from an ARPA grant via NHDES for cybersecurity enhancements, including IT protocols and software (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote, excluded from the operating budget.

Article 9 raised $140,000 for emergency breathing apparatus for Public Safety, with $110,000 from NH Department of Public Safety and $30,000 from taxation (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote, bolstering first responder equipment.

Capital Reserves and Projects

Articles 10-12 funded reserves: Article 10 ($40,000, Road Repair/Maintenance), Article 11 ($25,000, Fire Apparatus), Article 12 ($10,000, Curious George Cottage) (link). All from taxation, recommended 3-0, and passed by majority vote.

Article 13 allocated $100,000 for the “Stories of Waterville Valley” project to enhance online hiking/trail info, with up to $50,000 from the 2022 Unassigned Fund Balance and the rest via grants (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote.

Articles 14-16 funded repairs and equipment: Article 14 ($90,000, Town Hall/Public Safety repairs/parking lot repaving), Article 15 ($54,000, new police cruiser), Article 16 ($50,000, wastewater system emergency repairs) (link). All from taxation, recommended 3-0, and passed by majority vote.

Articles 17-22 used the 2022 Unassigned Fund Balance: Article 17 ($50,000, Ice Arena repairs), Article 18 ($50,000, Corcoran Pond dredging planning), Article 19 ($40,000, Public Safety ambulance repairs), Article 20 ($25,000, Corcoran Pond waterfront/beach repairs), Article 21 ($20,000, water distribution repairs), Article 22 ($15,000, final lease payment for Public Works truck) (link). All recommended 3-0, passed by majority vote.

Preschool and Operating Budget

Article 23 raised $46,000 from taxation for a Rey Center preschool for 2023-2024, passing 64-4 via secret ballot (link).

Article 24 appropriated $5,613,874 for general operations (e.g., $1,360,152 for General Government, $1,326,292 for Public Safety) (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote, excluding prior articles’ funds.

Noise Ordinance Amendment

Article 25 amended Ordinance #8 (Noise Ordinance, Section 2, adopted 1988) to redefine federal holidays affected by noise restrictions (link). The revised Section 2 states: “No construction activity that produces an unreasonable amount of noise, which may be heard from adjacent and/or public properties, shall be permitted at any time on Sundays, Federal Holidays, and any observed Federal Holidays.” Recommended 3-0 by the select board, it aimed to clarify holiday coverage (e.g., observed dates like a Monday for a Sunday holiday). Discussion was minimal, focusing on enforcement consistency, and it passed by a majority hand count, though exact tallies weren’t recorded.

Additional Ordinances

Article 27 amended Ordinance #15 (Wild Animal Ordinance, 1993) to include ducks/waterfowl in Section I.b’s wild animal definition (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote.

Article 28 updated Ordinance #16 (Heating Systems, 1994) to align Section I with current state fire/building codes and added Section V requiring fire blocking in multi-family/commercial units (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote.

Article 29 revised Ordinance #17 (Building Permits, 1994) to adjust project cost thresholds and permit administration language (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote.

Article 30 amended Ordinance #20 (Solid Waste, 2022) to prohibit waste deposits at the transfer station from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote.

Valley Sanctuary and Community Power

Article 31 (by petition) authorized negotiating the sale of a 0.8-acre lot near Corcoran Pond to Valley Sanctuary at fair market value (link). Advocates pitched it as a cultural hub; critics like Nicholas Cassie opposed green space loss (link). It failed, 39-45, via secret ballot.

Article 32 adopted the Community Electric Power Plan for bulk electricity purchases, with no budget impact (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority hand count.

Tax Exemptions and Credits

Article 33 re-adopted RSA 72:61-64 for a 100% solar energy system tax exemption, prompted by state law changes (link). Recommended 3-0, it passed by majority vote.

Article 34 adopted RSA 72:28 for a $500 veterans’ tax credit, expanded by state law to include active service members (link). Recommended 2-0-1, it passed by majority vote.

Reports and Fiscal Debate

Article 35 heard reports with no action (link). Article 36 featured Amy Solner’s push for capital reserves, estimating $877,000 in interest savings over five years (link). A non-binding vote favored reserves.

Budget Impact

The total budget reached $45,159,000, driven by bonds, requiring $3,867,000 in taxes—a $678,247 increase, or $1.37 per $1,000 of value (link). The meeting ended with volunteer appreciation.

View the full meeting: