The Waterville Valley Select Board convened on June 17, 2026, to address a wide range of town matters, including sewer system connection requirements, infrastructure updates, water quality, summer programming, and financial oversight.
Sewer System Connection Requirements Reviewed
A member of the public raised concerns regarding the town’s enforcement of RSA 147-8, a New Hampshire law requiring properties within 100 feet of a municipal sewer system to connect. The speaker noted that current town practice limits mandatory hookups to new residences or those with failed septic systems, questioning why existing properties with functional systems are not required to connect. The Board acknowledged the issue, noting that RSA 147-8 does authorize municipalities to grant waivers when a property is served by an adequate alternative sewage disposal system approved after January 1, 1985, which appears to be the basis for the town’s current approach. The Board indicated that it plans to conduct a comprehensive review of the town’s water and sewer regulations, including the potential adoption of impact fees for municipal services. The ongoing road and water line work on Snow’s Mountain Road was cited as context, with the Board noting that infrastructure investment decisions are complicated by uncertainty over how many existing properties would ultimately connect to the sewer. (link)
Lost Pass Road Streetlight Request
A member of the public requested that the non-functional solar-powered streetlight at the end of Lost Pass Road be replaced with an electrified unit. The speaker cited persistent safety concerns due to poor nighttime visibility, noting the solar battery has failed and replacement batteries are unavailable. The request was made in conjunction with planned road work on Lost Pass Road anticipated for next year. The Board committed to looking into the matter. (link)
Town Gardens Maintenance Concerns
A member of the public raised concerns about the condition of town garden areas, particularly along Snow’s Brook and at the corner of Osceola Road and Snow’s Brook, citing an absence of post-winter cleanup and ongoing maintenance deficiencies. The speaker described debris accumulation, an unaddressed drainage ditch posing a trip hazard, and a deteriorated stone drainage area at the Osceola Road/Snow’s Brook corner that had become overgrown and filled with silt. Town staff acknowledged that budget reductions to the Department of Public Works (DPW) had extended mowing and cleanup intervals, and confirmed that staff had been dispatched to assess the specific areas and develop a maintenance schedule. (link)
Memorial Tree Replacement Pending
A member of the public sought the Board’s permission to replace a memorial tree and its accompanying plaque. The Board confirmed it had previously indicated support for the replacement and noted that coordination with the Director of Public Works is needed to assess the site, remove the dead tree, and determine what will be required for the new planting. The speaker is continuing to search for a suitable disease-resistant replacement tree. (link)
Boil Water Order Investigation Concludes
The Town Manager and the Director of Public Safety provided an update on the recent town-wide boil water order. An investigation — which included interviews with all town staff and the lab courier — concluded that the E. coli detection was most likely the result of an error in sample collection, storage, or transportation rather than actual contamination in the water supply. Follow-up testing confirmed no E. coli was present in the system. State and EPA regulations mandated the boil order upon any positive result. The Director of Public Safety presented recommendations to improve the integrity of future water samples, including securing samples in sealed containers until delivery to the laboratory. The Board discussed whether there might be an opportunity to engage with the state about refining its response protocols when a positive result appears isolated and procedurally suspect, though officials acknowledged that changing state rules is difficult. The Board noted that the boil order was particularly burdensome for commercial establishments. (link)
Drought Status Lifted
Town staff reported positive news on the water supply: Waterville Valley is no longer experiencing any drought conditions and has exited even the lowest “abnormal” category. A water system operator was also congratulated on receiving his Grade 2 Operator’s license. (link)
Meeting Posting Compliance Emphasized
The Town Manager circulated a memo to all board chairs and committee secretaries reiterating the requirement to submit meeting schedules and minutes to Town Hall in a timely manner for public posting. The initiative is aimed at ensuring compliance with RSA 91-A, New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know Law, particularly given the formation of several new committees and working groups. A training session on RSA 91-A requirements, to be conducted by the New Hampshire Municipal Association (NHMA), is scheduled for July 16th at 8:30 a.m. and is open to all board and committee members. (link)
Recreation Department Updates and Fourth of July Preparations
The Recreation Director provided an update on summer programming. Staff training week was underway, with 22 staff members participating and a return rate exceeding 90 percent. Boat programs will shift to a six-day-per-week schedule beginning June 23rd, with Mondays off, a change from the prior seven-day format. (link)
The Fourth of July parade theme was announced as “Sequentennial.” The parade will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a carnival from noon to 3:30 p.m. A brass quintet from the New Hampshire Music Festival will perform in the parade and at Packard’s Field during the carnival. Participants with floats or antique vehicles were encouraged to arrive by 10:30 a.m. to line up. The Board also discussed continuing a tradition of having a community member read portions of the Declaration of Independence in Town Square, and agreed to follow up with the individual who has performed this role in recent years.
The Board also discussed the relationship between the town’s Recreation Department programs and the summer activities being advertised on the resort website. The Recreation Director confirmed that the boat programs remain covered by the Freedom Pass through 2026, and noted that the resort’s summer programming appears to complement rather than duplicate the Recreation Department’s offerings.
Public Safety Department Updates
The Director of Public Safety outlined several department initiatives. An infographic summarizing department activities will be published monthly in the Wig Wag newsletter and posted on the town website’s public safety page, along with a call log showing date, time, and type of call — with no personal information included. The department also encouraged all residents to sign up for Genesis, the town’s emergency alert platform, which is free and allows residents to receive texts, phone calls, and emails for town-wide emergencies and road closures. (link)
The new fire truck is currently in Vermont receiving final graphics and equipment installation, and is expected to arrive by mid-July. Plans for disposition of the old engine are being developed; the preferred approach is to list it through an online marketplace specific to used fire apparatus, following maintenance work on Engine 1.
The department also noted that a draft Hazard Mitigation Plan has been received for review prior to submission to FEMA, with a few weeks available for revisions.
Boulder Path Road Construction Safety and Juneteenth Work Authorization
The Board discussed pedestrian and cyclist safety on Boulder Path Road during active construction by the contractor, Piper. The Town Manager confirmed that Piper has been asked to install signage advising against travel through the construction zone while equipment is operating. The Board also voted to authorize Piper to work on Juneteenth — a federal holiday — in order to complete water-related infrastructure work, including installation of a new hydrant and gate valve. Town offices remain open on Juneteenth as it is not a state-recognized holiday in New Hampshire. (link)
The Board also confirmed that DPW staff — not Piper — have been performing catch basin and gate valve work on Valley Road separately.
Route 49 Ski Sign Status
The Board clarified the status of the Route 49 ski sign, which was removed due to deterioration and safety concerns. A rendering for a replacement sign has been completed with an estimated cost of $3,500, but voters previously rejected a warrant article to fund its replacement. Town staff confirmed the original sign is being safely stored. Options under consideration include seeking private donations — potentially through a local foundation — or auctioning the original sign to help offset the cost of a replacement. The matter would need to return to Town Meeting for a funding vote. The Board noted that the sign’s location near Forest Service land creates regulatory complexity for any replacement structure. (link)
Property Tax Abatement Approved
The Board approved a property tax abatement for a unit at Boulderwood Way. The town’s contract assessors, Whitney, recommended reducing the assessed value by approximately $32,000 — from $800,000 to $768,000 — after re-inspecting the property and reclassifying its quality from “average plus” to “average,” consistent with comparable units in the area. (link)
Wastewater Treatment Project Update
The Board received a detailed update on the wastewater treatment plant project. A meeting was held the previous day with the engineering firm Black & Veatch and the project consultant to review updated flow and load data, process design, and value engineering options. Several cost-saving ideas — such as placing treatment basins outdoors — were evaluated but rejected due to the harsh winter conditions and operational safety concerns at the site. (link)
Revised cost estimates reflecting value engineering changes are expected by mid-July. The Board discussed plans for a public hearing later in the summer — potentially around Labor Day — to update residents on revised project costs, noting that the last public figure cited was $117 million.
Discussions also addressed interim measures for the existing lagoons, which must meet current permit requirements under the EPA Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) until the new plant is operational. Options under review include sludge dredging — which is anticipated to begin in spring 2027 and is expected to cost millions regardless — and the potential installation of baffle curtains to improve treatment performance. The Board expressed a preference for dredging as the most practical near-term investment, noting that modifications to the aging lagoon system would have limited useful life before decommissioning.
On funding, the town has submitted and resubmitted a pre-application to the NH DES Clean Water State Revolving Fund (Clean Water SRF) reflecting the increased project cost, and submitted a new SAG grant pre-application. The Board noted that congressionally directed spending applications are also being pursued, and that staff are actively working to engage a federal lobbying firm to support those efforts.
A comprehensive review of the town’s water and sewer fee structure and regulations is also underway, with legal counsel having prepared a preliminary draft.
Wastewater Operator Recruitment Progress
Progress was reported in recruiting qualified wastewater operators. Three candidates have been interviewed in a first round, with second interviews being scheduled. Several additional candidates are being screened by phone. The state’s suggested staffing plan calls for six licensed operators to serve both the water and wastewater utilities; current staffing is significantly below that level. The Board noted that approved budget funding covers operator positions for approximately the last two quarters of the fiscal year, and that some additional funds may be available due to a recent staff departure. (link)
Solid Waste Management Committee Update
The Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Committee continues to meet bi-weekly. Key developments include ongoing outreach to commercial entities about consolidating waste removal arrangements for cost savings, and coordination with the Waterville Valley Lodging Association (WVLA) to help member lodges understand the financial benefits of working collectively. (link)
The committee is also evaluating the long-term funding model for the transfer station, with discussion about potentially moving away from quarterly assessments toward a tax-based system. The addition of scales at the facility was raised as a way to provide more equitable, weight-based charging for construction and demolition debris.
Concerns were noted regarding commercial entities in arrears on waste removal invoices, and the Board agreed that a clear policy — potentially including service suspension for non-payment — should be developed. The RFI for a redesigned transfer station facility still requires revision before it is ready to go out.
A composting program using green cone digesters was discussed but has been placed on hold while more pressing topics are addressed. A recycling information flyer prepared with assistance from the Conservation Commission has been distributed to residents.
The Board agreed to schedule a dedicated MSW discussion as part of a regular Select Board meeting on July 15th, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Process Update
A Board member noted that the CIP committee has been engaged in robust discussions about improving the review process, including refining the priority ranking system beyond simple high/medium/low categories and considering revolving funds for certain department needs. The possibility of establishing an enterprise fund for water and sewer was discussed as a longer-term option, potentially timed to coincide with the new treatment plant coming online. The CIP committee is expected to share its work with the Select Board in mid-July.
School Board Meeting Brief
A Board member briefed colleagues on a recent School Board meeting. The School Board approved use of the school gymnasium as a polling place for the September primary, the November general election, and the March 2027 Town Meeting, though it indicated a preference to review specific dates annually rather than granting blanket approval going forward. The Town Moderator will appear before the Select Board in August to formally issue the warrant for the September primary. (link)
The Board member also noted that two pieces of state legislation remain on the Governor’s desk: one that would establish a tax cap for school budgets, and another that would require unassigned school fund balances to be automatically applied to offset the local tax rate. The School Board deferred a recommendation to install an ADA-compliant ramp at a secondary school entrance, placing it in the Capital Improvement Plan rather than funding it from current surplus.
Budget Advisory Committee Members Selected
The Select Board selected three members for the new Budget Advisory Committee from a pool of six applicants who responded to the call for volunteers. Three additional candidates were not considered after failing to respond to outreach. The three selected members are Darrell Fernandes, Anna Sandler, and Doug Waite. A Select Board member will serve as the board’s representative to the committee. (link)
The next regular Select Board meeting is scheduled for July 1st, at which the Assistant Town Manager will preside in the absence of the Chair.