Concerns over fire protection and water availability were discussed at Tuesday night’s selectboard meeting. Development along the Route 100 corridor is taxing the town’s aquifer and the fire department is looking into ways to efficiently utilize the town water supply. All properties in Dover obtain water through well-water systems.
Fire chief Rich Werner requested $42,000 in funding for an aquifer study. The study would look into the water supply, how it’s being managed, and whether the town should switch to a managed water source.
Werner said ongoing development in the Route 100 corridor could impact the aquifer and may no longer serve West Dover’s water needs. Should the town switch to a managed pool system, the town’s water supply could be more efficiently managed. Mark Wallace, who attended the meeting, agreed with the necessity of the aquifer study. “If we want to continue to develop, we need a managed water source,” said Wallace. “We just have these holes poked in the aquifer. I think we need to pool the source into one main source managed by a municipality and have fire suppression.”
Wallace said a municipal water system would be ideal for West Dover. Many condominium complexes in West Dover are 20 to 30 years old and “are functioning, but are still archaic.” He also added that one association spent $160,000 to upgrade their well system. “If we can come up with a municipal system, then they’ll save a tremendous amount of money,” said Wallace.
Mike Jacobs said the last study on the town’s aquifer was conducted in 1973. Jacobs said the town is much different than it was 36 years ago and he cautioned the town should look at the bigger picture before moving ahead on a large capital project. “No one knows if there’s enough water to support this. We must have added 3,000 units since 1973. Can that aquifer handle one more bedroom in this community?” asked Jacobs. “Before you manage something, you’ve got to know what you’re managing. I don’t think we know that.”
Selectboard chair Linda Holland asked Werner how many people would be willing to give up their existing systems. Werner said they’ve informed several people, including condominium management groups, Mount Snow Ski Resort, and other primary water users. Werner added there have been some initial meetings with these groups but no commitments have been made.
The selectboard approved a plan to pursue fundraising efforts for the study and appointed an ad hoc committee to spearhead those efforts.
In other news, Don Albano asked the selectboard for clarification on a Dover Economic Development Committee issue. The Dover branch of Chittenden Bank closed its doors last summer and a DEDC subcommittee was established to seek a new bank. The bank subcommittee members are Lisa Coneeny, Meri Spicer, and Albano.
Albano said there was some confusion among subcommittee members as to who appointed the committee to begin with. Albano recalls the selectboard appointed the bank subcommittee to negotiate with potential banks. He asked the selectboard to clarify the situation.
Selectboard member Adam Levine did not recall if anyone on the selectboard was involved in appointing anyone on the subcommittee. But selectboard member Magnus Thorrson said the selectboard authorized the DEDC to get a bank. Holland agreed “that the DEDC came before the selectboard to establish a bank task force and was approved.”
While the selectboard was divided as to who authorized whom, selectboard member Jim Martin was concerned with another matter. The issue that concerned Martin wasn’t the search for a bank but how the bank subcommittee was operating. Martin didn’t provide an explanation for his statement. However, he intimated that something suspicious was happening. “I do not support committees appointed by a selectboard thinking they have the authority by the state to hold executive sessions,” said Martin. “I have a problem with people saying ‘this is executive session, clear out the room.’ ”
Albano’s question was not answered. The selectboard tabled the discussion until the next selectboard meeting.
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