Select Board Addresses Garbage Pickup Concerns, Dam Operations, and Utility Collections at November 19 Meeting

The Waterville Valley Select Board held its regular meeting on November 19, 2025, covering several operational and policy issues affecting town services.

Public Comments

A resident representing Black Bear Lodge raised significant concerns during public comment about the recent reduction of commercial garbage pickup to once per week, citing potential public health risks, rodent attraction, and hardship for businesses during the upcoming holiday season (link). The board acknowledged the issue stems from staffing shortages at the transfer station and pledged to address it later in the agenda.

Coverage Agreement with Conway Renewed

The board approved renewal of a three-year mutual aid agreement with the Conway Fire Department to provide primary emergency response coverage for a remote one-mile stretch of the Kancamagus Highway located in the northeastern corner of Waterville Valley (link). Conway will bill the town only for actual calls responded to.

Reimbursement of Celebration of Life

In memory of former Town Manager Mark Decoteau, his widow reimbursed the town $10,144.59 for expenses related to his celebration of life. The board voted to accept the funds as unanticipated revenue and will determine an appropriate charitable or community use at a later date (link).

Dam Issues

A lengthy discussion focused on winter operation of the town-owned dam and pond on the Mad River. The Public Works Director presented guidance from the state Dam Bureau and a 2020 Operation, Maintenance, and Response (OMR) plan recommending a two-foot winter drawdown starting November 1 to provide storage capacity during heavy rain events and reduce the risk of flash-board activation, which has cost the town nearly $14,000 in repairs over the past three years (link). Representatives of the ski area, which holds water rights on the pond for snowmaking, expressed strong preference to keep water levels high throughout winter. The board noted the need for a formal updated water-use agreement that clarifies operational responsibilities.

Gondola Project Will Require Voter Approval for Air-Rights Negotiations

Representatives of the resort presented an update on the proposed gondola project, which would begin near the ice arena and travel over sections of Village Road and Snow’s Brook Road. Because the gondola would pass through the airspace above public roads, state law requires town meeting authorization before the Select Board may negotiate or sign any easements related to those air rights (link).

The Board explained that the upcoming warrant article would not approve the gondola itself. Instead, if passed, it would:

• Authorize the Select Board to negotiate air-rights easements with the resort.
• Allow the town to define financial terms, safety requirements, maintenance responsibilities, and duration of any easement.
• Permit the Select Board to coordinate with other affected property owners whose parcels also lie beneath the proposed gondola route.
• Enable the town to complete legal and engineering reviews necessary before any construction occurs.

Without this voter approval, the town cannot legally negotiate or grant the necessary rights for the project to move forward.

The Board emphasized that the warrant article simply provides authority to negotiate, not approval to construct, and that any final agreement would still require public transparency.

Wastewater Treatment Facility Update

A request for proposals for value-engineering services on the wastewater treatment facility upgrade has been posted, with the goal of identifying potential cost-saving or efficiency-improving design changes. The Board emphasized that this step supplements—not replaces—the work of the town’s current engineering team (link).

Transfer Station

Department heads reported ongoing challenges filling a CDL driver position at the transfer station, resulting in the temporary shift to once-per-week commercial pickups (link). The board directed increased recruitment efforts and asked the Select Board representative on the Municipal Solid Waste Working Group to collaborate on short and long-term solutions.

Other business

The board reviewed a proposed policy for collecting delinquent water and sewer bills, which would authorize certified letters, late fees, water shut-offs for non-payment after 120 days, and loss of transfer station privileges (link). Minor revisions were suggested before implementation early in 2026.

Other actions included approval of prior meeting minutes and routine departmental updates.