Waterville Valley Select Board Discusses Corcoran Pond Water Management and Municipal Updates
The Waterville Valley Select Board convened for a regular meeting, addressing several operational and administrative matters. The board approved minutes from a prior meeting and deferred approval of another set for further review (link).
A key discussion under privilege of the floor centered on water levels in Corcoran Pond, used for snowmaking at the resort. The pond was recently lowered after being raised for a community event, leading to concerns about insufficient water for upcoming cold weather snow production. The board and resort representatives acknowledged communication gaps regarding the installation and removal of dam blocks, agreeing to improve coordination by specifying durations and providing advance notice for changes. The baseline pond level is maintained about two feet lower per operational guidelines, with adjustments made upon request for snowmaking needs (link).
The town manager provided updates on various departments. Financial reports indicated stable conditions with no major concerns, though typical year-end expenses were noted. Budget hearings are scheduled to begin the following week. The manager discussed website upgrade options, including a required ADA compliance feature by 2027. Civic Plus is promoting an upgrade, but an alternative provider offers lower annual costs with no onboarding fees through a promotion. The board emphasized evaluating options promptly (link).
Additional town manager items included challenges in contacting the IT provider for planning board email setups and inquiries about AI applications in municipal operations. No significant financial impacts were detailed beyond routine budgeting (link).
The board reviewed the calendar, noting upcoming planning board meetings on December 11 for Capital Improvement Plan recommendations and zoning amendments, a public hearing on zoning amendments on December 16, and the next select board meeting on December 17 (link).
Ex officio reports touched on the Town Core Working Group and a social media poll for interest in green cone composting. Inquiries about cardboard recycling at the transfer station were raised, with discussions pointing to space constraints and potential budget considerations for single-stream recycling (link).
Correspondence included a right-to-know request for information on a proposed warrant article authorizing negotiations for aerial rights over Snow’s Mountain Road and another public road, to be considered at the March 2026 town meeting. The board plans to provide available draft versions and related documents (link).
The meeting adjourned following these discussions.