The Waterville Valley Select Board met on October 21, 2026, to address a wide range of municipal topics, including the Capital Improvement Plan, a new wastewater regionalization option, the removal of the town dock, and preparations for the upcoming general election.
The meeting opened with the approval of five sets of Select Board minutes covering September 16, September 23, October 7, October 9, and October 14 (link).
Town Manager Update
The Town Manager provided updates that included recognition of a community member who provided a staff meal and who stepped forward to replace a dying memorial tree on Valley Road, near the White Mountain Athletic Club parking lot (link). The replacement tree has been planted and staked by the Department of Public Works.
An ongoing evaluation of lead service lines is also underway. Initial sampling results are coming back at or below lead-free levels, and an affidavit process is being used to document homes inspected for lead service lines (link).
Bus Shuttle Service
A Board member reported that the Waterville Valley Business Association voted to contribute $49,000 to the Resort to ensure weekend and holiday week shuttle service continues this winter season at the same stops and frequency as the previous year (link). Correspondence received from a resident urged the town to restore the service; the Town Manager clarified that the shuttle is not a town operation. Resort General Manager Tim Smith had recently communicated to a community email list that discussions were ongoing to develop the “most useful and financially sustainable service possible,” with a further update expected at a community forum on November 4th (link).
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and Capital Reserve Funds (CRF)
Members of the Capital Improvement Plan committee presented the proposed 2027 CIP and an overview of Capital Reserve Funds to the Board (link). The committee described a process that began in May with department head meetings, incorporated public feedback from an August 31st hearing, and resulted in prioritized project rankings reviewed by the Planning Board. The Board noted that the CIP would be finalized in mid-December, after the operational budget is set (link).
Key items in the CIP included:
- Public Works Heating System: Ranked low priority at $30,000, pending an assessment of whether recently installed doors have sufficiently improved heating in the facility (link).
- Secondary Power Source: Estimated at $70,000; the Town Manager suggested a holistic approach to potentially tie this into a generator planned for the wastewater treatment facility, or to repurpose an existing generator, to avoid redundant spending (link).
- Public Works Equipment: A one-ton plow truck at $200,000 was identified as a high priority, with ongoing discussion about purchasing versus leasing (link).
- Road Construction: Of the potential $4.3 million 2027 CIP request, approximately $3.5 million is allocated for road construction, specifically Lost Pass, Cascade Ridge, and Beanbender Road (link). The Board discussed splitting the projects and potentially delaying Cascade Ridge and Beanbender construction by one year to manage the tax rate impact. The Snow’s Mountain Road full-depth reconstruction and waterline replacement — approved at the 2026 Town Meeting — is budgeted separately; however, a $300,000 change order related to potential sewer line addition and drainage improvements is under consideration (link).
- Funding: The Board will weigh general taxation, fund balance, and Capital Reserve Funds as sources. A past guideline of not adding more than one dollar to the tax rate for capital projects was noted, though the Board acknowledged this threshold may not hold for the coming budget cycle (link).
Regarding Capital Reserve Funds, the Board expressed support for new revolving funds — for Police Detail, Ambulance Billing, and a Veterans Memorial — each seeded with $5,000 (link). The Town Manager explained that revolving funds allow revenue generated by specific activities (such as officer detail reimbursements) to be applied directly to those expenses rather than flowing back into the general fund, and also allow the town to accept donations into dedicated accounts (link).
A $322,604 appropriation was proposed for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) improvements, which would involve renaming an existing solid waste truck Capital Reserve Fund to encompass broader MSW infrastructure costs, including potential transfer station upgrades (link). A $150,000 Capital Reserve Fund for municipal facility and property maintenance was also discussed, covering the town hall, public safety building, salt bin, and mechanics garage (link). The Trustees of the Trust Fund are expected to present recommendations at their November meeting on appropriate minimum threshold levels for established Capital Reserve Funds (link).
Town Dock Removal
The Board confirmed that electrical work to discontinue power to the town dock has been completed, and demolition is expected to begin the following week, coordinated with the Resort (link). The Resort had previously been offered the opportunity to take ownership of the dock but declined. The Board will subsequently consider whether to sponsor a warrant article for a future replacement dock. Concerns were raised about unattended resort boats remaining at the dock without barriers, creating a potential liability issue, and the Board suggested that rope barriers with appropriate signage be used whenever boats are left unattended (link).
Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Board received a 167-page Hazard Mitigation Plan for endorsement (link). Given insufficient time to review a document of that length, the Board deferred adoption to the next meeting. A Board member raised concern about the relatively low hazard risk ranking assigned to wildfires compared to earthquakes, noting that a destructive wildfire appears more probable than a destructive earthquake in Waterville Valley (link). The Director of Public Safety, who worked with the consultant to prepare the plan, was on vacation and will be asked to flag any notable concerns before the next meeting.
General Election
The general election is scheduled for November 3rd, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Waterville Valley Elementary School gymnasium (link). Select Board members confirmed their coverage shifts, with adjustments made to accommodate a Board member’s attendance at the Budget Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. that morning.
Lighting at Boulder Path Crosswalk
The Board discussed the recently relocated crosswalk on Boulder Path, noting that the relocation moved it away from an existing streetlight, leaving the crossing poorly lit (link). As a short-term measure, the Board discussed deploying one of three uninstalled solar lights — originally designated for Snow’s Brook Road — to cover the Boulder Path crosswalk until a long-term lighting plan is developed. The Board also expressed interest in a long-term decorative lighting and landscaping plan for the Boulder Path corridor, potentially pursued through public-private partnership.
A Board member also raised concerns about the crosswalk’s current placement, which leads directly to the front entrance of the Academy building rather than providing pedestrian access to West Branch Road or the library (link). The Board discussed potential solutions, including extending the crosswalk pathway to connect to West Branch Road, and agreed to look at the issue further in the spring.
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Update
A significant development was reported: following a public information session with the design team, the Town Manager began exploring a “pipeline to Plymouth” (P2P) regionalization concept as an alternative to constructing a new on-site treatment plant (link). Town staff and the design team met with Plymouth Village District operators and representatives from NH DES. DES expressed strong support for pursuing the option and offered to assist with a feasibility study.
The next steps include requesting a 60–90 day pause on the AOC milestone schedule from the EPA while the feasibility study is conducted, while simultaneously continuing to advance the plant design to 60% completion by January (link). The design team will provide separate contracts for the 60% plant design and for conceptual pipeline feasibility work. The Board also plans to coordinate with Congressional representatives on potential federal funding (link).
Preliminary cost estimates for the P2P option are expected within 45 days. The current plant design is estimated at $78–$90 million. Plymouth is planning facility upgrades regardless of Waterville Valley’s participation; what Plymouth is seeking is consistent wastewater flow, which Waterville Valley can provide. A metered user-fee arrangement and long-term inter-municipal agreements would need to be negotiated (link). The Board noted that significant engineering work already completed — including the lagoon evaluation and dam structure assessment — will retain value under either path (link).
Other wastewater-related items discussed:
- Dumbwaiter Repair: A $20,000 repair to the dumbwaiter at the existing wastewater facility is required. The town has received a 30-day extension from the state inspector and is committed to proceeding, despite the cost (link).
- Staff Training: The town’s new Wastewater Superintendent recently visited the MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) facility at the summit of Mount Washington to gain hands-on experience with membrane maintenance. She documented the visit on the town’s dedicated wastewater project website (link).
- Website Accessibility: The Board discussed improving visibility of the wastewater project website and transfer station schedule on the town’s main landing page (link).
Road Projects
Boulder Path Road construction is complete through the binder layer, with final paving planned for next year. A roads review meeting is scheduled for October 26th, after which further updates will be provided to the Board (link). The Board also noted that the newly paved roads have seen increased vehicle speeds, and the Department of Public Safety has been asked to increase patrols. Road line repainting throughout town was flagged as overdue, with some markings now nearly two years old (link).
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Update
The transfer station is on track for full operation with a compactor by December 1st (link). The Board clarified that it will not pursue a contract with a private waste collection service, as the town is obligated to operate a transfer station. Once the compactor is in operation, costs and revenues will be evaluated with the goal of potentially reducing user fees. The Board also discussed the longer-term question of whether MSW costs should return to general taxation rather than a user fee structure, as was the practice approximately seven to eight years ago (link).
Board Concerns and Directives
A key issue raised was the Planning Board’s upcoming discussion on allowing food service — specifically a food truck — as an accessory use in the Snow’s Mountain Special Zoning District (link). The Board noted that a homeowner near the proposed location submitted correspondence citing concerns about noise, trash, odor, and competition with existing businesses. Town Counsel has provided draft language that would limit any food truck permission to specific conditions, rather than opening up general food service as an accessory use — language the Planning Board has not yet formally discussed. The Board also noted that under current town permitting rules, food trucks may only operate for three consecutive days before a mandatory five-day hiatus, and any changes to those rules would require Select Board action and would apply town-wide. The property owner’s position on the proposal remains unknown (link). A Board member noted that when the Snow’s Mountain Special District was created, community concern about food establishments in that traditionally quieter residential area was significant (link).
Additional directives:
- Adventure Zone Water Pumping: Following a code enforcement visit to the Tyrell Adventure Zone development site, the developer was directed to filter water being pumped on the property through a siltation basin before it reaches Corcoran Pond. The site appears to be in compliance, with a filtration basin in place (link).
- Rail Trail Program: The program is scheduled to run through approximately the end of October, with the final weekend potentially having already occurred (link).
- Speed Board Data: A Board member requested current data from the town’s movable speed boards, citing observations of high vehicle speeds on Valley Road and Boulder Path Road during the Columbus Day weekend (link).
The meeting concluded with a motion to enter non-public session for personnel reasons.