Board approves DWRF loan and easement to advance Phase 2 water project

The Board approved the Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF) loan agreement (Resolution 719) and separately authorized an easement agreement with landowner Maryanne May (Resolution 718) to lay a section of new water main. Town manager Lee summarized the project finance history, noting the overall project has grown from roughly $3.3 million to about $5.1 million since initial planning and that an EPA arrangement will cover a larger share of eligible costs due to a disadvantaged-community determination: "Overall we've gotten $5.1 million for this project... because of our disadvantaged state, we get 100% instead of 75% for certain portions," Lee said.

On the easement, trustees said the agreement will move the pipeline to more level ground than the river-trail alignment and improve service for properties in the loop; staff said the easement terms commit the town to return or replace vegetation and restore impacted areas. Trustees moved and passed both resolutions during the meeting; staff will publish the executed loan documents and proceed with RFPs for construction anticipated to be issued in late October or early November with a spring construction start.