Selectboard Addresses Osceola Road Acceptance, Town Report, and Event Management
Selectboard Addresses Osceola Road Acceptance, Town Report, and Event Management
The Waterville Valley Selectboard convened on February 20, 2025, to discuss several key issues, including the potential acceptance of Osceola Road as a town-maintained road, updates to the town report and warrant articles, and concerns about managing large events like hockey tournaments. The meeting balanced infrastructure decisions with operational and financial considerations.
Osceola Road Acceptance Warrant Article
A significant discussion centered on a warrant article to accept Osceola Road as a town-maintained road, proposed for the upcoming town meeting. The board reviewed a plan involving a 30-foot right-of-way to be deeded to the town, encompassing a 22-foot paved strip and drainage areas, alongside a 40-foot maintenance easement extending five feet on either side. The easement, not owned by the town, would allow road maintenance while leaving landscaping responsibilities with the condo association (link). The board noted that any damage to landscaping within the easement during maintenance, such as snow plowing, would be the association’s responsibility unless specified otherwise in the easement document, which remains under negotiation (link).
The road meets town standards, having been newly paved last summer, but the transfer awaits completion of a drainage project expected this summer (link). The board also clarified that three private properties at the road’s end would remain unaffected, maintaining their own plowing arrangements.
Town Report and Community Power Warrant Article
The town report is in the printing process, expected to be available by the end of the week or early next week at the post office and town hall, with a digital version to be linked on the town website (link). A last-minute change to a warrant article was intercepted, adjusting the wording for a community power initiative to establish a capital reserve fund, aligning it with other town reserves for future energy projects (link).
Waste Management and Dumpster Funding
The board addressed a $58,000 warrant article for dumpster replacements, part of a broader seven-year municipal solid waste strategy. Despite plans to potentially overhaul the collection system by 2030, current broken dumpsters necessitate immediate replacement to maintain operations (link). The discussion highlighted the need to sustain the existing system while planning for future efficiencies.
Event Management and Public Safety Concerns
Concerns about managing large events, particularly hockey tournaments, prompted a debate on public safety and resource allocation. The board discussed complaints about disruptive behavior from hockey groups, including noise and rowdiness, and considered requiring organizers to fund additional police presence for larger events (link). While hockey tournaments are not currently classified as special events, unlike permitted events like the ski-joring race, the board agreed to explore this further as a separate agenda item, potentially involving the rink’s management (link). The ski-joring event, held recently, managed parking effectively despite a storm, though attendees noted a lack of portable toilets (link).
Voter Registration Updates
The board addressed new state voting laws affecting first-time voters at the March town meeting, prompted by a 2025 change eliminating the option to sign an affidavit for identity verification (link). New voters must now bring a birth certificate or passport to prove identity, as a driver’s license alone is insufficient, along with a separate document like a utility bill to confirm Waterville Valley residency (link). Existing registered voters only need standard ID (e.g., a driver’s license) when voting. To inform residents, the board plans to post the law’s details on the town website, coordinate with the Supervisors of the Checklist (meeting March 1), and simplify the explanation, addressing past confusion where familiarity was assumed to suffice (link). The process requires new voters to present these documents at registration, with approximately 30-40 new registrants estimated from the November election as a benchmark (link).
Other Business
The board noted a delay in signing a deed for the Britton property, awaiting the owner’s return to town (link). Additionally, a resident inquiry about extending town plowing on Flat Mountain Road beyond its current endpoint was raised, but no immediate action was taken, as it would require board approval and a subdivision intent not currently in place (link).
The meeting concluded with a motion to enter a non-public session for a personnel matter, reflecting ongoing administrative duties.