The Waterville Valley Select Board convened on Wednesday, September 3, 2026, addressing a range of municipal updates, new business, and ongoing projects. Key discussions included a memorandum of understanding for Corcoran Pond, updates on the municipal solid waste plan, and progress on various road and wastewater treatment plant initiatives.
Meeting Opening and Town Manager Update
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a reminder about the upcoming primary election on Tuesday, September 8th, from 11 AM to 7 PM at the school gymnasium. The Board approved the minutes from its August 5th and August 19th meetings as amended (link).
The Town Manager provided several updates (link):
- A new fire truck has arrived after three years on order.
- Drivers were reminded to be mindful of children as school is back in session and daylight hours are shortening.
- The after-school program is set to begin on September 8th.
- A recent public hearing for the Municipal Solid Waste Committee saw a strong turnout and generated valuable feedback.
- Swimming is once again permitted at Corcoran Pond, as state testing confirmed bacteria levels have cleared — the first time swimming was permitted all year.
- Town Hall and the Transfer Station will close after 11 AM on September 3rd for a professional development day for town staff.
- The Transfer Station will be open on Labor Day, a schedule adjustment that may continue going forward.
Corcoran Pond De-Icing System Memorandum of Understanding
The Board discussed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Waterville Valley Resort regarding a diffused air de-icing system for the Corcoran Pond dam (link). The MOU is valid for three years and is renewable. Discussion clarified that “winter operating limits” refer to measures preventing condensation and freezing within the compressor, which will require heating or regular draining of the pump house. The system will operate during the snowmaking season and when ice protection of the dam is needed. The town retains full control over dam management as required by the Dam Bureau.
The technology was proposed by Waterville Valley Resort General Manager Tim Smith and was described as an improvement over past methods, which had experienced problems with suspended aerators burning out when water levels dropped during snowmaking draws. The MOU does not supersede existing water use easements. After minor grammatical amendments, the Board voted to approve the MOU (link).
Municipal Solid Waste Ordinance and Operations
The Board reviewed a redlined draft of Solid Waste Ordinance #20 prepared by Town Counsel (link). The ordinance required updating to reflect the town’s transition to transfer station operations with no curbside collection. A key discussion focused on clarifying the definition of “commercially generated waste” — specifically, how to distinguish waste from large commercial establishments versus waste from individually owned residential properties used for short-term rentals.
A member of the public from Black Bear Lodge suggested that waste should be defined by how a unit operates rather than how it is owned, noting that condotels function as commercial operations regardless of individual unit ownership. A representative from Village Condos clarified that their property no longer has a formal rental program, with individual owners now managing their own short-term rentals.
The Board tabled a vote on the ordinance to allow the MSW Committee to incorporate the suggested language edits. The long-term plan is to approve the amended ordinance for interim operations and then draft a solid waste regulation to be presented at Town Meeting. This approach would allow the town to adjust transfer station operations without requiring a town vote for every operational change (link).
Informal polling conducted at the recent public hearing showed Sunday as the most popular operating day (74 votes), followed by Thursday (51), Saturday (49), and Tuesday (47). Every day of the week received at least some votes, suggesting community sentiment may favor more days with shorter hours rather than fewer days with full hours. The MSW working group is scheduled to meet the following Tuesday to work toward a schedule recommendation. The Board emphasized the need for a timely decision, as condominium and homeowner associations are awaiting the transfer station schedule before deciding whether to contract private haulers.
For temporary transfer station operations, the Town Manager reported favorable terms on refurbished single-phase compactors from Recycling Mechanical of New England. A 2-yard compactor can be rented for $400 per month with a $2,000 installation fee. A 50-yard container would be rented from either Waste Management or Casella — whichever offers the cheapest rate. The monthly rental for the 50-yard container is approximately $125 per month, with a hauling fee of $375 per haul and a disposal rate of $125 per ton. The compactor will sit at ground level — eliminating the need for a ramp — and the enclosed container arrangement will be bear-proof. The Board voted to approve moving forward with the rental of the compactor and container, not to exceed $6,000 in total, funded from the Municipal Facilities Capital Reserve Fund (link).
Town Dock Repairs
The condition of the town docks behind the Gazebo was discussed (link). These docks sit primarily on Waterville Valley Resort/Tyrell property but have historically been built and maintained by the town. The Town Manager reported that James Sununu, representing Tyrell Development Co. and the Resort, expressed interest in taking control of the docks if they are in good repair. A previous repair quote of $13,000–$18,000 is believed to be outdated and too low given current structural concerns — the support structure may require a near-complete rebuild. The Town Manager will seek updated quotes from multiple vendors. If repair costs come in at $30,000–$50,000 or higher, the Board indicated it would likely bring the matter before the town via a warrant article or public hearing. Legal questions around liability and the informal nature of the town’s existing arrangement with the Resort will also be investigated. The Board’s preference is to maintain the dock as a shared community amenity and to explore cost-sharing with the Resort.
Wastewater Treatment Plant and Road Projects
Weekly project meetings for the Wastewater Treatment Plant continue, with engineers Black & Veatch expected to deliver a preliminary construction cost estimate on September 5th (link). A public information session is scheduled for October 9th at 6 PM. The town’s finance team is actively pursuing federal and state grant funding, and the Board noted the importance of communicating these efforts publicly to address community concerns. A dedicated project webpage is being developed — with the new wastewater superintendent and the town’s web designer collaborating — to provide regular updates (link).
Good news was reported on the Boulder Path Road project (link): the full-depth base work is complete, with fine grading scheduled to begin the following Tuesday and asphalt paving expected by September 9th or 10th, weather permitting. Curbing, concrete work, manhole/drain adjustments, and sidewalks will follow, with project completion anticipated in October.
Regarding Snow’s Mountain Road, Piper Construction will not begin work in 2026; that project is now expected to launch in spring 2027 (link). Engineering work from HEB continues on Lost Pass, Cascade Ridge, and the Valley Road culvert. The Board discussed potentially prioritizing West Branch Road, which has been deteriorating rapidly, possibly ahead of Cascade Ridge. Quotes for crack sealing are being sought to extend the life of roads that are beginning to show wear but do not yet need full reconstruction. The Board also highlighted the need for written confirmation from the U.S. Forest Service before investing in repaving Tripoli Road. The CIP road program — a multi-year effort that began around 2019 and was delayed by COVID and subsequent cost escalation — was noted as the single largest cumulative cost category in the Capital Improvement Plan. Breaking larger road projects into smaller, separately approved cost units was suggested as a way to make the program more manageable for town voters.
Financial Report and Board Concerns
The financial report was briefly reviewed (link). Expenditures and revenues were reported to be generally on track, with a minor question raised about expected Freedom Pass income not yet showing the anticipated increase since the previous reporting period.
Under Board Concerns and Directives (link):
- CIP Public Hearing: The recent CIP public hearing had sparse community participation. The Board acknowledged ongoing community skepticism about the transparency of CIP cost estimates and discussed ways to provide better documentation — such as real quotes or detailed estimates — for at least some items, while recognizing that many vendors are reluctant to quote projects before funding is appropriated. The CIP Committee was credited for holding a public hearing, a step that had not been done previously.
- MSW Placards: The Board noted that each residential property in Waterville Valley has been allocated two free transfer station placards, available for pickup at the station. A reminder will be issued on the next utility bill. Concerns were raised about short-term renters potentially leaving town with placards and the $10 replacement fee. The Board’s view was that operators of short-term rental properties should incorporate this cost into their business model rather than expecting town taxpayers to absorb it. The MSW Committee will develop contingency procedures for situations where short-term renters arrive at the transfer station without a placard.
- Bus Service: The Waterville Valley Business Association (WVBA) held an emergency meeting to address concerns about the resort shuttle. The Board clarified for the public record three key points: (1) the town zeroed out shuttle funding in the current fiscal year budget and legally cannot restore it mid-year; (2) the shuttle is operated by Waterville Valley Resort, not the town — complaints about schedule or coverage should be directed to the Resort; and (3) the Board has not yet decided what, if any, town funding it will recommend for the shuttle in the fiscal year 2027 budget, which will be discussed during the upcoming budget season. Separately, the WVBA — now operating primarily on cash reserves following a withdrawal of lodge funding — voted to contribute toward shuttle operations for the current ski season through Town Meeting, in the hope that townspeople would address the longer-term funding question at that time. Editor note: The town did not vote to zero out the bus funding as this was done by the Select Board who should have found other cost savings to address the town voted budget.
Calendar Review
Upcoming dates include (link):
- September 3rd (next day): Planning Board public hearing on landscape subcommittee site plan regulations, 6 PM, Town Hall.
- September 8th: Primary election, 11 AM – 7 PM, school gymnasium.
- September 10th: Regular Planning Board meeting, 8:30 AM, Town Hall.
- September 16th: Regular Select Board meeting, 2 PM (first hour non-public for legal/negotiations matters; regular meeting begins at approximately 3 PM). The Board aims to make a decision on transfer station hours at this meeting.
- September 23rd: Select Board strategic session, 9 AM, location TBD.
- October 4th: Budget Advisory Committee, 9:30 AM, Town Hall.
- October 9th: Wastewater Treatment Facility public information session, 6 PM.
- October 14th (tentative): Municipal Solid Waste public hearing, 6 PM (likely at the school to accommodate attendance and AV requirements).
The meeting concluded with the formal signing of swearing-in documents for the Town Manager and Assistant Town Manager (link), before the Board moved into non-public session for legal matters.