Town manager reports FEMA, bridge and energy updates; congressionally directed funding noted

Town manager David Edson briefed the Select Board on multiple infrastructure and funding matters.

Edson said the Municipal Energy Resiliency Program work (insulation and related energy upgrades) will begin at a town townhouse and then move to other municipal buildings soon. He reported steady progress on the Main Street bridge and wall project: crews are drilling micro‑piles, engineers made a small redesign of three pile locations to tie into the existing wall, and a recently installed coffer dam performed well during a rain event.

On federally funded recovery work, Edson said the town is coordinating biweekly with FEMA on the fire department and wastewater treatment facility projects and will need to issue an RFP for engineering design. He noted an $8.2 million FEMA obligation is part of the process that will enable design work, and that the town is also pursuing additional federal funds (USDA, Economic Development Administration) and congressional‑directed spending requests to increase options.

Edson reported correspondence from congressional offices supporting the town's requests: he said one member's office did not specify an amount, Peter Welch's office signaled $1,300,000 and another office $804,000; he cautioned that those are subject to the federal appropriations process.

Board members asked about timing, whether a relocated wastewater facility or an elevated in‑place design is preferred, and how additional funds or design changes would affect permitting and costs. Edson said funding sources and regulator direction will influence the final approach and that the town is exploring supplemental funding to broaden options beyond FEMA’s in‑kind replacement scope.