The Waterville Valley Select Board met on October 7, 2026, addressing a wide range of town business including road repairs, the wastewater treatment plant project, the transition of municipal solid waste services, public safety concerns in Town Square, and early budget season preparations.
Public Input and Road Updates
During the privilege of the floor, a resident expressed gratitude for a recently installed light at the town’s only four-cornered intersection, noting its importance for nighttime visibility (link). The resident also provided an update on Moose Run road work, reporting that repairs on Drake’s Brook Road and Flat Mountain Road were nearly complete, including a new catch basin on Drake’s Brook Road to prevent winter icing (link). The Board was informed that a local contractor has expressed interest in bidding on remaining Moose Run work, prompting discussion about coordinating future Lost Pass Road paving to ensure continuity and avoid unnecessary seams in the finished surface (link).
Select Board Minutes Approved
The Board approved the minutes from its September 16 meeting, with acknowledgment that all proposed edits had been incorporated (link). There was also brief discussion about minutes from a recent strategic meeting, with confirmation that a draft had been prepared and would be formatted for the official record, satisfying the town’s obligations under RSA 91-A.
Town Manager Updates
The Assistant Town Manager provided several updates (link):
DPW Departures: A long-serving Department of Public Works employee is departing after nearly 12 years of service, with the current Director of Public Works — Megan Boobar — having her last day on October 14. The Board acknowledged her contribution, reading aloud from her farewell statement expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community.
Wastewater Treatment Facility Dumbwaiter: A malfunctioning dumbwaiter at the existing wastewater treatment facility has been cited as an unsafe structure by the Department of Labor (link). The Department of Labor plans to take it out of commission on October 14, which would severely impact plant operations and the safe handling of treatment chemicals. Despite multiple attempts, the town has been unable to secure an elevator technician willing to perform the repair. A larger construction firm has been engaged through the town’s engineering firm in hopes of resolving the issue. Town Counsel has been asked to intercede and, if necessary, seek an injunction to allow continued safe operation while a solution is pursued. Staff have proactively moved a supply of chemicals to an upper floor in anticipation of a potential lockout (link).
New Business
Municipal Solid Waste Ordinance: The Board adopted Select Board Ordinance 20, governing municipal solid waste operations. Following legal review and edits, the ordinance is ready for signatures and takes effect immediately. It will be brought before Town Meeting for formal ratification (link).
Town Dock Removal and Replacement: The Department of Public Safety has issued an order citing the town dock as an unsafe structure, directing that it be made safe or removed (link). The town plans to remove the dock after the foliage season, coordinating access with Waterville Valley Resort. The adjacent gazebo, which was reconstructed approximately three years ago, will be supported during the removal. The Board discussed whether to pursue a 2027 Town Meeting warrant article to finance a replacement dock. Estimated replacement costs were:
- $125,000 for a full pressure-treated lumber replacement
- $153,000 for a pressure-treated frame with composite decking
Any replacement would require coordination with the resort and potentially a land surveyor, as the dock’s location involves the high-water mark boundary between town and resort property.
2026 Tax Rate Setting: The process for setting the 2026 tax rate is underway (link). The MS-434 form is complete, and the MS-535 form is expected to be ready for the next Select Board meeting on October 21. Staff indicated the final rate is expected to be very close to projections from March, with a potential downward adjustment of up to five cents, though two cents in either direction was considered the more likely range. Tax bills are expected to go out in December.
Freestyle Ski Sign Update: The Freestyle Ski Sign has been repaired by Marvel Signs and is back in the town’s possession (link). Reinstallation was planned for the morning of October 8. The Board also discussed the possibility of adding a complementary sign honoring the town’s hiking trail system, either as an addition below the freestyle sign or as a separate installation alongside it.
Old Business
Wastewater Treatment Plant Project: An information session on the wastewater treatment plant project is scheduled for Friday, October 9, at 6:00 p.m. in the school’s multipurpose room (link). Engineers from the project’s design firm will present multiple facets of the redesigned project, including total project costs. The Board requested that a slide on funding efforts — including WIFIA federal loans and other sources — be added to the presentation. Engineers were also directed to be prepared to address value engineering and how it has been incorporated into the current design. The Board noted that an alternative option previously set aside due to cost is being re-examined; a meeting with NH DES is scheduled for October 15 to discuss that alternative before any further public disclosure.
Road Projects: Boulder Path Road is nearing completion, with line painting scheduled for the following Tuesday and hydroseeding for Wednesday, followed by a final walk-through inspection with town staff, engineers, and the contractor (link). The project has received positive feedback from residents and visitors. The town’s engineering firm (referred to as HEB in the transcript — see editor notes) will meet with staff on October 29 to review all engineered road projects, culvert replacement designs, and prioritization. Delays in obtaining state alteration of terrain permits have affected project timelines across the state. The Board discussed the need to reassess the multi-year road repair program given significantly rising material costs and budget constraints. A temporary fix involving low-flow water management is being pursued for a sewer freeze issue at the River Road and West Branch Road intersection. The Board also discussed a proposal to replace failing metal guardrails with wooden ones to improve both aesthetics and safety (link).
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): The Board received confirmation from Casella that its Bethlehem transfer facility will stop accepting municipal solid waste on December 31, 2026 — earlier than previously anticipated (link). A staff member at the transfer station first observed signs of an accelerated closure timeline during a routine drop-off and alerted the town. Credit was given to the MSW working group for its proactive research and preparation. The town is planning to rent a refurbished single-phase compactor with a variable frequency drive as a temporary solution, with the goal of assessing its operational effectiveness before committing to formal engineering costs. Quotes from Casella and Waste Management for hauling and related services have been shared with the MSW working group for their recommendation to the Select Board. A public hearing on transfer station operations is scheduled for October 14 at 6:00 p.m. in the school’s multipurpose room, preceded by an MSW working group meeting on October 13.
The Board addressed a resident inquiry comparing private dumpster collection rates to town services, explaining that the town transfer station is required by the state and serves not only condo associations but also single-family homeowners and accepts waste types — such as electronics and mattresses — that cannot go into private dumpsters (link). The Board noted that operational data collected in the early months will inform potential rate adjustments and may support the creation of a revolving fund for equipment maintenance and upgrades. The transfer station began operating under its new schedule — Sunday, Monday, and Thursday — on October 4.
Regarding residents who arrive without a placard, the Board discussed flexible options such as a $5 day pass rather than turning anyone away, provided trash can be verified as originating from Waterville Valley (link).
Calendar Review
Upcoming scheduled events include (link):
- October 8: Planning Board meeting, 8:30 a.m.
- October 9: Wastewater treatment plant information session, 6:00 p.m., school multipurpose room
- October 13: MSW working group meeting
- October 14: MSW public hearing, 6:00 p.m., school multipurpose room
- October 19: Budget Advisory Committee meeting, 9:30 a.m.
- October 21: Regular Select Board meeting, 3:00 p.m.
- October 22: Conservation Commission meeting, 1:00 p.m.
- October 27: Capital Improvement Program (CIP) meeting, 5:30 p.m.
- November 3: General Election, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., school
Correspondence and Board Concerns
Town Square Bike Safety: A resident raised concerns about unsupervised young adults and children riding bikes — including wheelies at speed — through Town Square during hockey season (link). The Chief of Police met with resort staff to discuss the issue. The Board noted that Town Square is private property and that primary responsibility for controlling activity there rests with the resort. Tim Smith, General Manager of Waterville Valley Resort, indicated the resort would increase monitoring and noted that the problem is expected to diminish once bike rentals relocate to the new Adventure Center being constructed in the Adventure Zone. The Board also acknowledged longstanding staffing constraints within the police department, including overtime pressures and an uncompetitive per diem rate, which limit the town’s ability to provide sustained coverage of private property issues. A police detail on the resort’s request and at its expense was noted as an available option.
Planning Board — Food Truck Zoning: A Select Board member who serves as ex-officio on the Planning Board noted that the board is expected to take up a request from the ski resort for a zoning amendment that would allow food truck operations in the Special District zone where they are currently not permitted. The current town food truck permitting process is oriented toward short-term weekend use, and any longer-term approval would require modifications to the permitting process (link). The Board indicated it will await the Planning Board’s decision on whether to sponsor such an amendment.
Meet the Town Event: The Board discussed the town’s limited participation in a community “Meet the Town” event scheduled for that Saturday (link). Only Parks and Recreation will have a table, due to short notice and organizational changes — the event was moved from September and the organizing responsibility shifted to the business association late in the process. The Board expressed support for fuller participation in future years.
Boulder Path Road Landscaping: As Boulder Path Road nears completion, a WonderPoints sign temporarily removed during landscaping work needs to be reinstalled in its correct location (link). The Board noted that the golf course contributed to the project by funding two sidewalk bump-outs for benches and providing seed for hydroseeding to match the adjacent course grass. Granite curbing was highlighted for its role in facilitating drainage and protecting the road edge long-term.
Budget Advisory Committee: A Select Board member reported that the Budget Advisory Committee met the previous day and began a high-level review of the operations budget, examining spending from prior years to build context for the upcoming budget cycle (link). The budget development process will follow a similar structure to prior years with some modifications. The Town Manager noted that deeper engagement with the town’s accounting software will follow the Assistant Town Manager’s return from travel (link).
The Board then moved into non-public session to discuss personnel and legal matters (link).