Highway Committee Minutes 8-17-2022

Highway Committee Minutes 8-17-2022

The Highway Committee of the Rutland Town Selectboard met at 9:00 AM on Wednesday August 17^th, 2022, in front of 1128 Town Line Road. Present was Selectboard Chairman Don Chioffi, Selectboard Member Sharon Russell, Road Commissioner Dave Sears, Town Administrator Bill Sweet, Robert Clark and Jeff Mangini from Otter Creek Engineering, Ron Fabian from Fabian Excavating, and property owners Jacob Carringer and Allie Wenzl.

The committee is at the site of the Town Line Road culvert replacement project to discuss project concerns with the property owners

1. Robert Clark reviewed the construction plans with the homeowners.
2. Discussed the options for restoration at the end of the project.
3. Depending on the preference of the homeowners, some additional screening can be added between the house and the road.
4. Discussed replanting native plants / trees and the types of species. There are organizations in the county which can give guidance on what would work best. Their contact info will be shared with the homeowners so they can make a decision.
5. The first culvert sections to be set are expected August 22^nd.
6. There are still 2 more trees in the project area that need to be removed. The homeowner asked if for them to be cut up for firewood. This should be able to be done.
7. The house has a natural spring in the front yard for water supply.
   1. The homeowners are concerned about the long-term quality and quantity of their spring water. There is no way to know this for the long term.
   2. The homeowners had the water tested in mid-May prior to moving in and there were no issues. They tested it recently using an at home test and it tested positive for e. coli. Mr. Clark said he could not say if it was related to the project or not but advised them to not drink the water until additional testing is done.
   3. The use of a spring to supply water is no longer an approved method, but this connection is grandfathered for this property.
   4. There were no records found during the design phase of this project that indicated the spring was used for drinking water supply.
   5. If water quality is affected when the wing walls for the culvert are dug and placed, this would indicate the brook is the likely source for the spring itself which Mr. Clark indicated as a concern.
   6. There has been no discoloration seen in the water yet.
8. The homeowners are also concerned about the integrity of the foundation walls.
   1. They are monitoring some existing cracks in the walls to see if they are expanding.
   2. Little change has been observed so far, they are concerned as excavating gets closer to their house there could be an effect on it.
   3. According to Mr. Clark and Mr. Fabian, no excavation closer to the house is anticipated. Mr. Clark advised the homeowners on what effects would look like.

The meeting adjourned at 10:00 AM.

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet