The Waterville Valley Select Board convened on August 5, 2026, to discuss a range of critical town matters, including significant updates on the wastewater treatment plant project, a major shift in municipal solid waste management, ongoing road infrastructure projects, and relations with the Waterville Valley Resort. The meeting also covered staffing updates, budget advisory committee progress, and upcoming elections.
Meeting Minutes Approved
The minutes from the July 1 and July 15, 2026, Select Board meetings were approved as amended. (link)
Town Manager Update: Wastewater and Water Department Staffing
Two employment offers were extended to candidates who would work across both the wastewater and water treatment facilities, with cross-training expected across both departments. (link) The Board also welcomed the town’s new Wastewater Superintendent, who brings over five years of experience in municipal wastewater operations. She currently holds a Grade 2 operator license and has been approved to sit for the Grade 4 exam in December, skipping Grade 3. A Water Distribution Superintendent is also in place, and the two are cross-training to support each other. NH DES has recommended a staff of six for the wastewater department alone; with the two pending offers, the town expects to reach five total, an improvement over recent weeks. Current budget allocations are sufficient to support the new hires. (link)
Ad Hoc Budget Advisory Committee
The inaugural meeting of the Ad Hoc Budget Advisory Committee took place and was described as productive. Minutes will be published by the end of the week. The committee voted to record and publish all future meetings for public access. The Select Board approved remote attendance for committee members when necessary, given the employment and family commitments of the volunteer members. The next meeting is scheduled for the first Tuesday of September. (link)
The committee meets monthly and will assist with the upcoming budget process, including the evaluation of funding requests from organizations such as the WVAIA and the library, which were significantly cut in the prior cycle. (link)
Boulder Path Road Project Update
Construction on Boulder Path Road is on schedule, with completion of the binder coat, curbing, and sidewalks anticipated by October 9. (link) The road is currently closed during construction hours daily for up to two weeks to accelerate the work. Over the next two weeks, crews expect to complete catch basin risers, install curbing, and lay the binder coat, making visible progress after weeks of subsurface work.
Safety concerns were raised by a member of the public operating a business on the road, citing incidents of children falling from bikes on loose sand and gravel during non-working hours, as well as pedestrians and cyclists entering the active construction zone. The Board discussed improving signage — including clearer “pedestrian detour” markings at key intersections such as Tripoli Road — and deploying detail officers at each end of the closure to enforce the restrictions during working hours. An electronic sign at the Tripoli Road intersection was also proposed to direct traffic. The Board acknowledged that the road’s current condition poses risks even when construction is not active, and asked the Department of Public Safety to assess whether a full closure to non-residents during non-working periods would be appropriate. (link)
Snow’s Mountain Road Utilities Project
A significant complication has emerged for the Snow’s Mountain Road reconstruction project. Engineering analysis revealed that installing a full closed drainage system, a sewer line, and a water line within the existing right-of-way would require disturbing an “area of influence” that extends beyond the road’s boundaries. To proceed with the original design, the town would need to either obtain easements from all 36 property owners on the affected roads or pursue formal land takings — a process that could add millions of dollars to a project originally estimated at approximately $2 million for sewer installation alone. (link)
In response, engineering staff are developing a hybrid open-and-closed drainage design intended to minimize disturbance and cost. A public hearing is being planned — with a presentation being developed in coordination with the town’s engineering consultants — to bring this updated cost picture to the community before any town meeting vote. No construction work on Snow’s Mountain Road is expected to begin before next construction season. Rock excavated from Boulder Path Road is being processed into road gravel that will be used for Snow’s Mountain Road, representing an early financial commitment to that project. (link)
National Night Out
The Town Manager reported on a successful National Night Out event, commending the strong turnout from the Department of Public Safety and Parks & Recreation staff and summer camp participants. (link)
Executive Leadership Planning Session
An executive leadership planning session for the Select Board and senior staff is scheduled for September 23 at 9 AM. (link)
Drought and Water System Update
The Waterville Valley area currently has no drought conditions, though southeastern New Hampshire is experiencing moderate to severe drought, with some areas reaching severe drought levels. Staff noted that recent rainfall may prevent conditions from worsening locally. A new water line from Well 3 has not yet been activated; disinfection of the line — which has been out of service for over a year — is planned for next year once staffing is sufficient. (link)
Resort Shuttle Service Negotiations
Following a board directive from the prior meeting, the Town Manager met with the Waterville Valley Resort to discuss the disputed first-quarter 2026 billing for shuttle bus service. The town offered to pay for two of the three months of service provided, recognizing that the vote ending the town’s participation occurred in early March. The resort declined the offer but indicated it wishes to continue negotiations rather than walk away. The matter was moved to non-public session. (link)
Municipal Solid Waste Management Overhaul
In a significant policy shift, the Select Board voted unanimously to end town-wide residential trash pickup and transition to a transfer station-only model for municipal solid waste, targeting a start date of December 1, 2026. (link)
The decision was driven by two urgent factors: the town’s trash collection truck will need tens of thousands of dollars in new tires to remain safe through the winter, and the Bethlehem transfer facility — which currently receives the town’s waste — may close earlier than anticipated. The facility is legally required to remain open through December, but the town’s driver reported long lines and active capping work, suggesting an earlier closure is possible.
Under the new model, residential taxpayers and their guests will bring household trash directly to the transfer station using their existing placards, which are tied to properties — not vehicles — and can be used by property managers and renters on behalf of the property owner. Commercial entities and condo hotels will be required to arrange private trash collection at their own expense, though residential taxpayers within condo units retain the right to use the transfer station. Construction and demolition waste, recycling, and other services currently offered will continue unchanged.
In the interim period before a permanent compactor facility is constructed, 30-yard open containers will be placed at the transfer station for household trash. Staff have identified a hauler as a potentially economical option for the interim contract based on their existing presence in the valley. A long-term plan calls for constructing a compactor with a loading ramp, likely to be funded through a warrant article at the March 2027 Town Meeting. The town is also investigating whether its transfer station permit can be modified to allow certain commercial waste for a fee.
A public hearing on the MSW transition is scheduled for Friday, August 28, 2026 at 6 PM. The Municipal Solid Waste Committee’s preferred design firm from the RFI process will be confirmed at the committee’s next meeting.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Update
The town’s project manager for the Wastewater Treatment Plant provided a detailed update on value engineering efforts aimed at reducing costs from the previously estimated total project cost of approximately $117 million. (link) Key changes under consideration include:
- Elimination of on-site sludge dewatering: Liquid sludge would be hauled to Plymouth for dewatering, reducing both capital costs and operational complexity. Plymouth has expressed openness to such an arrangement.
- Revised flows and loads: Because a new wastewater line up Snow’s Mountain is no longer planned, projected flows to the facility have been revised downward, allowing for a smaller plant footprint.
- Reduced preliminary treatment and equalization equipment: Optimizing pumping and equalization infrastructure to match the revised design.
- Removal of carbon filters from initial construction: The plant is expected to meet discharge requirements without carbon filters; space will be reserved to add them in the future if needed.
The overall project cost is expected to decrease by at least $15 million, and potentially significantly more depending on the outcome of the sludge dewatering analysis. A revised cost estimate is expected by September 4. The project remains on schedule with no missed milestones. A subcontractor will visit the week of August 17 to assess the quantity and quality of accumulated sludge in the lagoons to inform a disposal plan. The membrane bioreactor (MBR) system — a critical component — is being pre-selected to ensure it is incorporated into the contractor bid package.
On the funding front, six programs have been identified and are being actively pursued. On the state side, a pre-application for the state aid grant has been submitted, the project is on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund priority list, and a Community Development Block Grant application deadline is mid-January. On the federal side, the team is pursuing the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan program, a USDA Water and Waste Disposal loan and grant program (also due mid-January), and a third federal program. Renewable energy options are also being evaluated for economic viability. The Board discussed the timing of a community public hearing on the project, with a preliminary cost update expected to be shared publicly in September and a more detailed 60% design presentation anticipated in December.
At the close of the discussion, the Town Manager noted that responses to the two staffing offers sent out that day had been received, with the expectation that both were positive — potentially bringing the department close to the NH DES-recommended staffing level. (link)
Upcoming Elections
Town Moderator Patty Furgal briefed the Board on the upcoming primary election. Polling will be held on September 8, 2026, from 11 AM to 7 PM at the Waterville Valley Elementary School gymnasium. A quorum of the Select Board is required to be present throughout the day, and all three members must be on hand after counting to sign and seal the ballot boxes. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, at the same location and hours. (link)
The Town Moderator also noted that the Historical Society has been digitizing town records, and the town plans to include funds in next year’s budget to support continued digitization efforts to improve accessibility for town staff and the public. (link)
Other Road Projects
Engineering designs have been received for Cascade Ridge Road and Beanbender Road, with a review call scheduled with the town’s engineering consultants. Those projects are approximately a year or more out. West Branch Road reconstruction remains on the agenda but was delayed when funds were reprogrammed to address other road needs. (link)
Regarding Tripoli Road, the U.S. Forest Service has indicated it would allow grinding and repaving but has not granted permission for full-depth reconstruction or widening to meet town road standards. The town considers Tripoli Road an important bypass and emergency route. The Town Manager is working to arrange a meeting with the Forest Service to seek clearer guidance, with the goal of securing any needed permissions in advance of future construction planning.
Beacon Property Tax Settlement
The Board voted unanimously to approve a settlement resolving a long-standing property tax matter at 19 Snow’s Mountain Road (the Beacon property). The property had been granted an abatement reducing its annual tax to $560 as a non-buildable lot, but taxes had not been paid since 2019 pending resolution of the issue. All penalties and interest were waived, and the total owed was set at $3,360 — representing six years at $560 per year — under RSA 76:16-a. (link)
Financial Report
The Board reviewed the mid-year financial report. The Planning Board has reached its budget cap for services from the North Country Council. The council’s representative will shift to email-based support and remote meeting review rather than in-person attendance to conserve the remaining allocation. Additional funds from contingency may be needed to support zoning warrant work through the end of the year. (link)
Questions were also raised about an unexpended fire truck lease payment and the DPS door replacement project, where the $15,000 allocated may be insufficient to address all needed doors at both the Town Hall and the Public Safety building. Staff will follow up on both items. Overall, the budget is approximately 64% expended, which is appropriate for this point in the fiscal year.
Board Concerns and Directives
Freedom Pass for 2027: James Sununu of the Waterville Valley Resort and Tyrell Development Co. has proposed changing the Freedom Pass reimbursement model from per-use tracking to an annual flat payment based on historical averages, with adjustments in subsequent years based on actual usage. The five-year average collected (2021–2025, excluding 2020 as an outlier) was $32,725. Staff will follow up to confirm whether the climbing wall would remain part of the program. (link)
Stone Tower Maintenance: Small trees growing from the stone tower near Town Square were flagged as a concern. Staff were asked to have them removed before root growth can cause structural damage. (link)
Bridge and Path Lighting: The Board discussed relocating two of the six lights from the bridge to the path between Town Square and the Golden Eagle Lodge to improve pedestrian safety in that corridor as days shorten. New Village Trail lights were recently installed and are operational. (link)
Merrimack River Council: Staff were asked to prepare a brief summary of the wastewater treatment plant project to send to the Merrimack River Council, which has been identified as a potential funding ally given the project’s downstream environmental implications. (link)
Dam Management: The need for an improved plan for controlling the dam’s flow-control blocks was flagged for the upcoming budget season. (link)
WVAIA Funding: The Town Manager and a board member plan to meet with a representative of the WVAIA to discuss the organization’s funding expectations for the next budget cycle, with the expectation that a request to restore funding to the historical level of $10,000 will be made. The Budget Advisory Committee will be engaged on this and similar funding requests. (link)
Correspondence
The Board received a Right-to-Know (RSA 91-A) request from an attorney representing the Waterville Valley Resort and Tyrell Development Co. seeking documents related to the original 1986 sewer line agreement and current design plans. The town directed the requesting party to publicly available materials on its website. (link) The Board also received emails both supporting and opposing continued town funding of the resort shuttle service, as well as one written letter strongly advocating for the town to continue funding its share of the shuttle service.
The Board then moved into non-public session to discuss negotiations and personnel matters.