Town of Oxford
Board of Selectmen Workshop
October 25, 2017
· The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Vice Chairman Floyd Thayer. Other members present were, Scott Hunter and Ed Knightly. Also present were Town Manager Butch Asselin, Town Clerk Elizabeth Olsen. Members of the public (Chris Glass, Dolores and James Paine, Lewis Staples and press (Leslie Dixon) also attended. Vice Chairman Floyd Thayer led all in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Topics:
Butch Asselin: To discuss Welchville Dam and what to do since it is starting to fail.
· Several documents were handed out including Conceptual Design and Cost Estimate for Welchville Dam Repair submitted by MBP Consulting, Proposal for Engineering Services for Welchville Dam Replacement from MBP Consulting, Preliminary Watershed Survey Update, and Welchville Dam Proposed Work Plan from NOAA.
Questions/comments:
Chris Glass: Hogan Pond camp owner, works in large scale bridge building and repair.
· Hogan and Whitney Pond property owners pay a large portion of tax and use limited municipal services.
· Growing area with increased property sales because of the ponds. We need development to succeed and need to look at the ponds as an investment in the future of that development.
· Feels that the Town should put the repair/replacement of the Dam out to bid.
· Feels that MBP should not be the only engineering firm that we look at. There are other kinds of Cofferdams besides the one that MBP is suggesting which is the most expensive.
· Suggested partnering with MDOT so that when we repair the dam MDOT could repair the bridge and maybe share the costs of the Cofferdam.
Dolores Paine: Resident of Hogan Pond
· Would sell if the Dam was torn out, lowering the pond to a steam level
· This year the water is lower than it has been in years. There are beaches again.
· The dam was rebuilt about 5 feet higher than it had been, this had been keeping water levels higher than historic levels.
· Since the Town of Oxford took over the dam the water levels aren’t drawn down as low as the Mill used to draw it down.
Lewis Staples: Resident
· Would like to see the dam back to the way it was in the 50’s. You used to almost be able to drive the whole way around Hogan Pond. There were beaches.
· If the Dam were removed it would dry up the horseback where there are registered endangered plant species.
· Dams could not be built at the outlets of the ponds due to the lack of solid land for a foundation.
Butch Asselin: Town Manager
· The board wants to do what is right. We were hoping for a larger turn out here tonight and would like to have more input.
· The dilemma is funding. FEMA doesn’t offer grants for repair/rebuild. The Grants, that may be available through environmental groups, are negligible.
· MMA has a Bond Bank – a 20 year loan – the application process is in February and October. This would take Town approval.
Scott Hunter: Selectman
· In 2010, when the Highway repaired the dam, what was the cost?
· Do we know what would happen if we removed the dam? Engineering studies on the impact?
· Hydroelectric was found not to be feasible in a 2016 research done by prior town manager.
Floyd Thayer- Vice Chairman
· Funding is the issue. We haven’t come to any conclusions on removing the dam.
· Can it be rebuilt cheaper?
A follow up meeting will be scheduled in the near future. Emails of the attendees were taken.
The meeting ended at 7:15 PM.
These questions/comments are not listed in order of discussion. Please listen to the recording for the full meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth Olsen
Town Clerk of Oxford
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