WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=5BjU9IRlV4A

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: 5BjU9IRlV4A):
- 00:03:14: Meeting Commences: Keyboard Troubles and Agenda Overview
- 00:05:28: GZA Proposal and High Oversight Costs Questioned
- 00:08:52: GZA Explains Dam's History, Issues, and Town Involvement
- 00:21:34: Original Repair Plan vs. Current Emergency Project
- 00:26:17: Long-Term Repair Goals, Costs, and Grant Funding
- 00:31:11: Timeline of 2007-2008 Improper Repairs Discussed
- 00:34:25: Phase Two Study Shelf Life and Timeline Explained
- 00:41:52: Grant Funding Potential and Future Grant Windows
- 00:46:16: Public Comment: Community Preservation Act Funds
- 00:47:23: Public Comment: Lake Level Impact on Recreation
- 00:52:33: Select Board Votes on Contract and Adjournment
- 00:52:51: Motion to Sign GZA Proposal for Dam Repairs
- 00:54:00: Declaring State of Emergency for Deficit Spending


Part: 1

1
00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:32.959
Hello. >> Hey. How y'all doing? >> The dream >> keyboard. Oh, I can't get my keyboard thing open. Oh my goodness. >> Hammer.

2
00:03:32.959 --> 00:04:24.919
>> We'll move on to the next one. I have two. All right. So, here's this And now I need something I can steal batteries from. >> Apparently I took the batteries out of it when I didn't need it anymore. Um,

3
00:04:28.320 --> 00:05:11.199
usually have a couple sitting around here. All right, I'll just wing it. Oh, nope. I have to Y wasn't too small. Anyway, we'll just go we'll just go with the laptop one, I guess. Shall we call Oh, is Rita coming?

4
00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:28.240
>> No, she's at the doctor's. >> Oh, yeah. That's right. I remember that. Thank you. Um, okay. Shall we call ourselves to order, Eric? Um, and then review the agenda, which I'll bring up real quick.

5
00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:50.360
Um, basically it's to sign uh the GZA proposal after having our questions answered. Um so um uh Nate you are from GZA

6
00:05:50.400 --> 00:06:07.120
Adrian you also um >> yes >> we had some questions from last night um and one of them was do you remember the line item I don't have it in front of me Haley that um Rita was asking about.

7
00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:24.080
>> Yes. Um, one of our select board members is not able to be here tonight, but she did have a question as to why the Let me just check her message really quick. Um, why the oversight costs were so high

8
00:06:24.080 --> 00:06:41.199
compared to the other items listed in the scope. um the oversight cost. Now we're talking about GCA services. >> Mhm. >> Okay. And the the

9
00:06:41.199 --> 00:07:09.360
uh let's see we get to that. Okay. So, it's really an estimate based on um you're talking about the designer services during construction. Is that test five? >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Um it's based on

10
00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:25.520
just a a kind of a a guess that this could be a 14-day project. So to have somebody out there um um every day for 14 days of work.

11
00:07:25.520 --> 00:07:45.039
>> Okay. >> Um I believe there's some reporting. That's another task. >> And so that you know that could change. This is a um a time and materials proposal. So, >> Mhm. >> any of these things could come out

12
00:07:45.039 --> 00:08:01.280
hopefully less than what we've estimated. >> Okay. And so when you say the 14 days, so I'm assuming that includes like nights, weekends, >> and that I think we're talking weekdays, I'm presume most contractors are not

13
00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:19.840
working weekends and we generally don't. Um if if it's extenduating emergency conditions then you know we c certainly would. >> Okay. >> Eric did you have any questions uh related?

14
00:08:19.840 --> 00:08:35.360
>> No that was really it and I think Nat answered those questions. Okay. >> I didn't I didn't have any. Only after that Rita had mentioned that um queued in. Haley, did you have any other questions?

15
00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:52.200
>> Um I think it might be helpful just to have GCA either Adrian or Nat if one of you can just kind of explain this process and what's involved just so that like you know for the recording so people want to look back and get a more complete picture while we have.

16
00:08:52.320 --> 00:09:08.839
Um, are you talking about the construction process? >> Yeah. And maybe Yes. And maybe if you can just kind of touch on how we got to this point. >> Oh, sure. Yeah. Well, um,

17
00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:23.760
uh, let's see. Well, we we've been working for the town for what, almost what, three years now, I think. um providing you know maintenance services and permitting services on on the dam. Um

18
00:09:23.760 --> 00:09:40.640
and uh last year or earlier this year the town updated its emergency action plan um on their own without our assistance really. Um and and so they uh the the

19
00:09:40.640 --> 00:09:57.680
personnel um named for the town's engineer was GZA. So, um, when Chief Sirwanic, um, um, learned about the issue at the dam

20
00:09:57.680 --> 00:10:12.880
on on the 28th, the day after Thanksgiving, he called me. Um, and I was fortunate because I'm I live in Northampton, so I was able to get up there easily. Um, and so I I met with

21
00:10:12.880 --> 00:10:30.880
him and and Howard Kinder and Walter Tibbitz and we all took a look at the issue. Clearly there are holes forming in the upstream face of the dam and there was water entering them. Um, and then Walter informed us that the the

22
00:10:30.880 --> 00:10:48.720
trash rack, which is kind of a a bar rack on the upstream end of the low-level outlet pipe, was uh was replaced with some of the repairs that were done in 2007208. Um, and since then, that trash rack has

23
00:10:48.720 --> 00:11:06.480
blinded up or gotten clogged with debris quite frequently. and he's the lucky one that gets to dawn a wet suit and go in there and clean it out. Um what it turns out was happening um and we we've known and the previous engineer

24
00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:21.600
Morris Root had known that there was leakage going um through the dam around the low-level outlet pipe that was inserted there in 2007. So it's a it's an old stone uh rectangular or square culbert. the

25
00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:37.920
original um outlet through the dam and um it was they sleeved a a plastic a PVC pipe up through it and um they were supposed to seal it around the outside

26
00:11:37.920 --> 00:11:52.959
of the pipe. Um that didn't really get done properly. Um, and so water leaks around the pipe as well as goes through the pipe. When the slide gate in the gate house is opened, when it's closed,

27
00:11:52.959 --> 00:12:09.360
it seals off any water going around or into the pipe, which is which is good. It's intended to do that, but as soon as it's open, water can go around both sides of it. And for some reason when that happens and you have the the great

28
00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:26.000
clogged, it creates a pressure differential between the lake and the gate the water in the chamber in the gate chamber. And so that forces puts more pressure on the face of the dam on the upstream face of the dam and water was getting forced through some weak

29
00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:42.639
points in the in the embankment fill material, the soil material that's piled up against the dam. And um that started eroding internally and Howard had noticed that in the discharge channel

30
00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:57.600
downstream you and there was there was sand in the channel. It's light colored sand. It matched the sand that he was seeing and he saw the holes upstream. And so we um we conferred about this and

31
00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:13.440
figured out what was going on. Um, I contacted Bill Saloma, the director of the office of dam safety, and he he and I decided that we should draw the dam down immediately. Um, and that um,

32
00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:28.160
you know, our estimate was that those holes were probably within two to three feet of the surface. So, we we we instructed Howard and and Chief Sirwanka to draw the pond down three feet from

33
00:13:28.160 --> 00:13:44.399
there. from from the current pool which is the winter draw down is two feet below the spillway where it was normal pool. So that's what's been happening. Um that that target um was met uh last Saturday.

34
00:13:44.399 --> 00:14:01.760
I was last out there um >> with Chief Sirwanka. We did a little measurement with a with a a level and determined that we were just at five feet below the spillway. Um, as you know, Haley, we met with the

35
00:14:01.760 --> 00:14:19.440
conservation commission last Thursday and they approved the emergency certification for the draw down. So, going forward, um, we prepared a draft uh, preliminary plan, which is one of the things required by well, that's

36
00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:34.000
let me back up. On December 3rd, you were issued um an a dam safety order, an emergency action order with a number of requirements in it um that that you're supposed to meet. Um it the letter comes

37
00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:51.920
off a bit threatening. Um but uh DCR is is pretty forgiving if they know you're working on it. They know people don't have piles of money sitting around >> ready to throw into a a hole in in a dam. So, um

38
00:14:51.920 --> 00:15:08.639
>> so um one of the requirements on that letter is um within seven days you're supposed to submit um a plan of action, a plan for repair. So, we quickly threw

39
00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:23.760
together a preliminary plan which um is just a a temporary solution to this problem to allow you to raise the lake back up um to at least the winter pool

40
00:15:23.760 --> 00:15:40.639
level until more exploration and more uh and a and a permanent solution can be um developed for fixing this leakage around around the low-level outlet pipe.

41
00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:58.000
Um, one of the things we expect DCR to to um require is what's called a phase 2 engineering evaluation and alternatives analysis. And it's and it's an extensive

42
00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:15.600
and expensive study of the dam that requires um soil and in this case you know borings through the masonry core of the dam. Um doing a hydraologic and hydro hydraulic analysis a detailed analysis

43
00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:30.639
um doing a stability analysis to see if the dam is prone to sliding under high flow conditions. um or if it's just uh prone to possibly

44
00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:47.120
collapsing under a high flow condition. To to my knowledge, none of those kinds of analyses have ever been done on Lake Wyola Dam. Um so we we expect uh the Office of Dam Safety to order that

45
00:16:47.120 --> 00:17:02.079
because they've downgraded the condition in the dam to unsafe. Um, and so what this plan, this preliminary plan that we've developed is intended to do is to bring the dam up to I guess like a poor

46
00:17:02.079 --> 00:17:19.760
condition. So at least it's not in in such a critical state that um that you know that an unsafe condition is is really um is really kind of an emergency situation.

47
00:17:19.760 --> 00:17:35.360
Um, so, uh, we submitted that plan last Friday, so we're a couple days past the seven days. Um, I've spoken to Bill Saloma. He says he has an engineer working on

48
00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:52.720
reviewing it. We'll get us an answer soon, I hope. Um, I'll check in with him tomorrow on that. Um and uh and then they say in the letter in 14 days you're

49
00:17:52.720 --> 00:18:10.080
supposed to have a contractor out there making your repair. Um that was Wednesday this this week. So, and um so we're uh and that's why u we we put

50
00:18:10.080 --> 00:18:26.720
the together a quick uh kind of very rough estimate um probable opinion of potential costs for this repair um for for you to discuss in last

51
00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:44.160
night's meeting. and um >> welcome to ask questions about that now if you'd like. Um so that's that's kind of where we are. Um I think uh we as you know the the funding that you're

52
00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:59.520
considering you know approving our proposal under is being funded by the executive office of energy environmental affairs dam levy and seaw wall repair and removal program. um and you've been

53
00:18:59.520 --> 00:19:17.760
awarded a a grant um for the original um deficiencies repairs that we identified in in our inspection in in May um for and that was for identified for our

54
00:19:17.760 --> 00:19:34.960
services to design and permit those repairs and then we the plan was to turn around and go back to EA and ask for construction funding for that. Um, this event has kind of turned that sideways. So, we we've talked we've spoken to Nick

55
00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:52.880
Bowlins at EA and he's he's all on board with repurposing those funds for this emergency situation. Um so um we we we have a message into him to

56
00:19:52.880 --> 00:20:09.679
see if there's other monies available and if so how does he want us to apply for them? Um, and you know, we're hoping that he's going to say, "Yeah, you know, other projects have come in under budget, so

57
00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:27.520
there's some money available and you can you can um apply for it." Adrien, is there anything to add there? >> Um, unfortunately, no. So, I did submit to him um the pre-contracting form today

58
00:20:27.520 --> 00:20:43.919
with a couple of questions just to make sure we're providing the documentation that he needs to be able to put it into his system and issue the actual contract um to administrator Bolton and then that will allow the state to actually

59
00:20:43.919 --> 00:21:00.559
disperse funds to the town. Um, and I did in that email tell him that, you know, the the necessary the costs are in excess of what the grant was because it's now a construction project and not a design

60
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:17.919
project. Um, I called him this afternoon to follow up on my email and I did get his voicemail. So, I did leave him a voicemail. Um, and I've not yet heard back. So, I'm hoping to get in touch with him soon, like Nat said to see if

61
00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:34.720
there's maybe additional funding available um for the town. So, no firm update, but we are seeking uh funding where we can to offset these costs. >> We we really appreciate that. And I it's

62
00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:51.440
nice to hear like from an engineer's perspective, you're much more articulate about certain things than I was when I was conveying some of this information. Um I do have a couple questions that you know as you were talking I was kind of thinking about. So is any part of the

63
00:21:51.440 --> 00:22:07.679
original plan like are we totally abandoning that or can any of that be incorporated into this construction project? >> The the original repairs? >> Yeah. Um well the original repairs were going to include some

64
00:22:07.679 --> 00:22:25.360
uh exploration well just sort of visual and uh maybe some die testing just to try to deter to confirm what we thought was the leakage around the outside of the pipe and then to include that in a in the plan to

65
00:22:25.360 --> 00:22:41.120
>> to be repaired. Um, but now that this is developed, I we think that some there's going to be probably a more significant repair that's and I don't really have a vision

66
00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:56.240
for what that is, but yes, to answer your question, I think all those all the repairs which were fairly minor. There were, you know, some vegetation removal, a lot of uh masonry repairs in the spillway. Um

67
00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:13.840
um trying to figure out what to do with this weird this monitoring weird box, this seepage monitoring weird box that was just kind of plunked down in standing water which and there's no real uh source for where where to put that

68
00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:29.039
you to in terms of source of leakage coming out that you can actually measure. So, um, but anyway, there's a number of things in there that, yeah, we're really relatively minor. This is this is significant and I think all this this funding is going to need to go

69
00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:46.320
toward that. Um, >> so, so my question would be, are we anticipating more expense? I mean, other words, how how the word how complete will these repairs be? The the amended repairs, the

70
00:23:46.320 --> 00:24:03.600
ones that you're advocating we do. Are they something that solves the problem or are they something that says, "Okay, now we go to condition poor and now we now we really spend money." I mean, I >> unfortunately, Eric, I think that's exactly where you're going is that this

71
00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:20.640
is this is leading to uh well, it's it's a bit of an opportunity because the state's got their eye on this now and they want this fixed. So, um,

72
00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:36.640
this this is going to be a temporary repair and it's going to allow basically what's happening is the water is being drawn through the dam when the gates open. Uh, if if a if a low-level outlet pipe gets

73
00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:52.159
clogged up and the gate is open, water gets drawn through holes in the dam. And what we're going to do, what our concept is is to dig out all the soil around the low-level outlet pipe up to the face of the dam and replace it with porous

74
00:24:52.159 --> 00:25:09.360
crushed stone so that water can freely pass through there when the gate is open and it won't be eroding soil from inter inside the dam. But that's a temporary measure. What we really want is probably like a concrete pipe surrounded in

75
00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:26.720
concrete going through going through the dam with a with a gate on it. So whe whether we can find funding to do that or not is is you know in these in these in this current government funding

76
00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:44.400
environment we we'll we'll see. But um like I said, we we have to do we we're likely going to be scoped for we meaning the the town is going to be scoped for a phase 2 engineering analysis and that that will end up with

77
00:25:44.400 --> 00:26:00.880
an alternatives analysis where the engineer will say this is the alternative that we recommend and this is what it's going to cost and then you turn around and use that to go for fund for grant funding. Okay. Um the other thing Yeah. Go ahead.

78
00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:17.760
>> Oh no. Um you might be getting to this point, but so if we did that, would that be kind of like the what we need to get us back to like a fair condition or or perhaps better? >> Yes, that is the intent with that. If um >> if this were not an emergency situation

79
00:26:17.760 --> 00:26:33.200
and you were just letting the dam go and not maintaining it and your engineer inspected it and gave it a poor or unsafe rating, DCR would turn around and issue you a dam safety order

80
00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:50.080
to make the repairs. But in in order to do that, you go through this step of you have to do a phase 2 engineering analysis and alternatives analysis. Um you have to have periodic inspections done every six months um which they haven't mandated yet but

81
00:26:50.080 --> 00:27:07.919
they may I don't know on Lake Wyad Dam and then and those have to be done by a professional engineer and then you have to um execute the alternative that comes out of the the phase 2 engineering

82
00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:25.200
analysis. In some cases, that's an extensive repair. In other cases, it may be appropriate to remove the dam. Obviously, that's not appropriate here. So, um so um so then you take that study

83
00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:41.600
and you turn around, you you submit to BEA for grant money. Um and uh you you hope that you get the funding. Um, >> how much money are we talking about here? I mean, I know I'm not asking for a quote, but I mean,

84
00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:56.880
>> yeah, >> just in terms of discussion, I mean, what what are we talking about? What what's the worst possible case? What I mean, round super round numbers, but any sense? >> Half a million dollars, >> you know, if if if we're going to do this, right? And I I guess my vision is

85
00:27:56.880 --> 00:28:11.840
why are we going to tinker around with trying to inject grout or some kind of sealant around the pipe when you could be pumping stuff through there for days? It's going to find the voids in the stone and go in every which way direction and you're never going to

86
00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:29.039
really seal it. Um, my vision if you really want to get this done right is to pull the boat the the gate house off, remove the gate, cut out that section of dam and replace it and then,

87
00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:46.320
you know, re-engineer the upstream face. It's an opportunity also because the dam the spillway is is uh undized. It does not meet the regulatory spillway design flood. So the dam it can over top in

88
00:28:46.320 --> 00:29:04.240
that flood. It's a it's a it's a it's a high level flood that we're not likely to see but is probable. Um and so the the regulations require that a a new dam certainly has to has to be able to

89
00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:20.480
pass the spillway design flood. Um I if if you get into that level of repair, it's an opportunity to redesign your spillway and and and meet, you know, meet the uh the regulations for

90
00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:37.520
spillway passage. Um that's all going to be addressed in in the phase two analysis. And then about the phase two analysis, there's um a new round of grant funding coming out called technical assistance from the Executive

91
00:29:37.520 --> 00:29:53.520
Office of Energy Environmental Affairs. Um and we have just on behalf of the town submitted an application for that for the phase 2 study. Um it just came out. This is perfect timing to to get

92
00:29:53.520 --> 00:30:07.520
that. Um, so hopefully that will be mostly paid for or actually that that grant is 100%. There's no matching fund

93
00:30:07.520 --> 00:30:23.760
uh by the applicant. So, um, and Adrian, what did we apply for? What was the dollar amount? >> You actually don't request a dollar amount for that one. It's set up differently. So you just say what your need is, >> right?

94
00:30:23.760 --> 00:30:40.640
>> We submitted for a phase two. Um the state then requests quotes from engineering firms. They get three or more quotes from selected engineering firms and then they select a firm, they

95
00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:57.520
solicit the work and they have the work performed and then they share that work with with the town. So, um the town doesn't have to issue a contract. There's no payment and then reimbursement. It's just um the town doesn't actually have to worry

96
00:30:57.520 --> 00:31:11.919
about what the dollar value is or like, oh, we requested 100,000, but the quotes came in at 108,000. They just we just said you need a phase two study. >> Great. And takes it from there. Yeah,

97
00:31:11.919 --> 00:31:28.159
it's it's a really nice one. So um all that's happened so far is you were we submitted the town and the state confirmed the submission. Um the grant opened on the 9th December 9th. So um

98
00:31:28.159 --> 00:31:44.159
that is the progress to date. So, another question I would have is whether or not, and I know this might even be a tough one for you to answer, but um whatever we did in 2000 2008, was that done improperly or or should we

99
00:31:44.159 --> 00:32:00.240
be in this position where the the dam is in the shape that it's in now if in fact, you know, significant repairs are made in 2007 or 2008? >> Well, that is a tough one to answer.

100
00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:15.600
with any sort of definitive level of confidence. I I you know on the on the face of it it looks like the the uh repair of the low-level outlet inserting the PVC pipe in there was not

101
00:32:15.600 --> 00:32:33.360
done properly. And I you know I don't know what transpired there. I don't know if the if uh the engineer that designed at Morris route if if they were retained to do you know construction oversight um

102
00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:49.200
administration if they were paying attention I I or if it was that they were not hired by the town there wasn't sufficient funding to hire them so the town kind of managed it and I I

103
00:32:49.200 --> 00:33:04.480
don't really know what happened there. >> No, I don't. >> Um what I do know is from what I discovered with um Walter Tibbitz and Howard and um was that the contractor did something that

104
00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:21.039
was just kind of unheard of, which was they stuffed rigid foam board pieces kind of like masonry in between the gaps around the pipe and then they foamed it together with spray foam. And then they smeared some mortar over it and that

105
00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:36.960
only lasted for a little while and it's all kind of broken apart. When we uh were there on Friday the 28th, there were big chunks of foam floating around in the gate chamber. Um, and when

106
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:53.600
Walter and Howard and Chief SWAN went back there on Saturday to clean the the the trash rack, um, they were able to fish those pieces out of the gate chamber and they're literally like big chunks of foam that are all kind of glued together

107
00:33:53.600 --> 00:34:09.040
and you could see this kind of curvature to them. It Yeah, it was like I've never seen anything like that. It's clearly not I I I would seriously doubt that Morris root would have approved of that and would have designed

108
00:34:09.040 --> 00:34:25.280
anything like that and recommended it. But um so yeah, to answer your question, I it it appears that it was done improperly and who knows who's to blame for that. Yeah.

109
00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:40.240
>> Right. That's a that's a good answer. That's that's a good Watergate answer, >> so to speak. >> That makes sense. >> Um I have two questions. >> Uh so when when you do

110
00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:58.960
what? Let me ask the um long range. So phase two study, we do those that repair work. How long what's the shelf life for something like that? >> Um that's an interesting question. uh shelf life for a phase two study.

111
00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:14.320
>> Well, I mean, not necessarily the study, but the >> the construction work that comes after that. >> Oh, the the the repair work. >> Mhm. >> Um well, that should last several generations at

112
00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:33.359
least. Um you know, I mean, >> that's a really good question. you know um a lot of infrastructure sort of design life is like 50 years >> you know just like a say a highway bridge or something like that you know

113
00:35:33.359 --> 00:35:49.280
um so you know concrete does have a life and if it's concrete that you replace that whole system with um given that it's up against water all the time it's in a wet environment you know it

114
00:35:49.280 --> 00:36:04.560
you know 50 years is probably a good estimate of that. If it's wellmaintained, it could last well beyond that. Um, modern concrete is designed to resist the freeze and

115
00:36:04.560 --> 00:36:22.079
thaw actions um that we see here in the northeast. So, um, you know, we would hope that it would hold up quite well. >> Thanks. That's a long time. Um and then my my other question is what's what's

116
00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:39.040
the time between? So we do this work now to get us our status out of unsafe and then about how much like is there any state imposed deadlines to go from four to whatever the next tier is?

117
00:36:39.040 --> 00:36:55.920
>> They haven't I don't think they've mandated anything yet in the in the order that they they're just they're kind of their immediate order was an emergency action um to get to get to this point. So, I expect once we get

118
00:36:55.920 --> 00:37:13.440
this first repair done, they're probably going to issue another order >> and it could happen before then, but they're probably going to issue an order that includes the phase two and then uh periodic inspections uh just to make sure the dam is, you

119
00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:28.400
know, somebody keeps an eye on the dam. Um and uh and then it's a matter of Yeah. And so the phase two takes a few months because it's extensive. We're going to have to

120
00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:44.560
get a a boring contractor out there to do well, whoever does the phase two is going to >> need to get a a boring contractor out there to do some drilling in the dam, take samples, and then the whole study. It's it's a

121
00:37:44.560 --> 00:37:59.599
few months of work. Um, and you come out with an extensive report, detailed report and and data that can be used for a design. It includes a a full topographic survey

122
00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:18.240
of the dam and uh bethimemetry upstream of the dam in the lake. So it's it's very extensive and everything is intended to be turned around and used for design work. >> Okay. >> For repair. Um the design process

123
00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:33.599
um will take a few more months and then there's permitting involved. Um and uh then that could be extensive because we're probably looking at doing a more significant

124
00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:50.880
>> draw down. Um and uh if depending on what the the plan is, there could be some dredging of you know material out of the lake to clear it off the dam. Um,

125
00:38:50.880 --> 00:39:06.720
so and you know actually excavating the embankment material that's underwater may be considered dredged material. So there's going to be permitting around that and we've got endangered species. So that's we have to deal with natural

126
00:39:06.720 --> 00:39:25.119
heritage on that. So >> that's really involved. >> Yeah, it's all it's all very involved. Um, so we're, you know, because this is kind of a a a um a critical situation, the we push as

127
00:39:25.119 --> 00:39:42.240
hard as we can, you know, but hopefully within, you know, maybe a year from this repair, you can get and if you can get the funding lined up, you can get somebody under contract to

128
00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:59.920
to make the the real long-term repair. >> Okay, >> just to sum up, that long-term repair is going to cost >> what? Some ungodly number, right? I

129
00:39:59.920 --> 00:40:15.599
mean, >> hundreds of thousands. Yes, >> hundreds of thousands. >> Yeah, most likely. >> I mean, we can basically plan on it's going to cost us I mean, there's going to be a class two uh report. I I think we're calling it and um and and that's

130
00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:32.560
very very likely at this point to to indicate that we have to do costly repairs. So, in terms of our thinking, um, um, it's we should be planning on spending a lot of money, whether it's a grant money or whoseever money it is, but it's it's going to cost hundreds of

131
00:40:32.560 --> 00:40:48.960
thousands of dollars before this is all. I mean, we're really talking now about we have to solve this problem right now, obviously, but in terms of solving the plan, the problem in a big way, that's going to be in the future and in the not too distant future, and it's going to be very

132
00:40:48.960 --> 00:41:04.480
expensive. Yeah. And I'm I'm you know I am being conservative and telling you high numbers. >> Sure. No the phase 2 evaluation could find that you know things are

133
00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:20.400
better than they look. It's just we don't know without doing the explorations and the analyses and that maybe there's a more surgical way to to make this repair to the low-level outlet and make some other you know repairs

134
00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:37.599
that would seal the dam so that it you know it's not leaking like it is right now. Um, >> so >> and I think like you said it sounds like, you know, obviously this is very expensive and I don't think we, you

135
00:41:37.599 --> 00:41:52.160
know, I think that piece has been said, but it sounds like we have an opportunity to do something that will last us the next 50 years. So hopefully that some preventative maintenance. >> Yeah, at least. >> Yeah, I think that's right. and and I

136
00:41:52.160 --> 00:42:10.000
mean part of the opportunity is that you're you're you're eligible for grant funding. >> This is uh going to be a priority project because of the sort of emergency nature of it. And um so

137
00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:27.920
>> um the grant that you that you submitted the application for was is that just to cover the design portion of a phase 2 study or would that include construction costs? I can't remember if you said that. >> Um it was just for

138
00:42:27.920 --> 00:42:43.599
the study. The technical assistance grant only funds studies and evaluations. Okay. Um, so it doesn't fund any design, permitting or construction. So it would it would

139
00:42:43.599 --> 00:43:00.079
fund could fund the phase 2 study. >> Um, and then in early 2026, we expect the dam and seaw wall grant application window to be open again for

140
00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:16.000
either design and permitting or construction. Um, >> okay. So, it's I mean it's never good to have a damn emergency, but it's kind of good timing in terms of when grant windows open, >> right? >> To maybe be able to use some initial

141
00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:33.119
information from the phase two >> to then seek a a new round of dam and seaw wall grant funding. >> Okay. And it sounded like Nat from what you said earlier that we have maybe about like a year or so before all those pieces are going to come together and we

142
00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:47.760
know what we're going to have to do construction wise. So >> yeah, I'm what I'm saying is that if you know when assuming you get the technical assistance grant uh for the phase two

143
00:43:47.760 --> 00:44:04.319
that's going to take probably three months to do all that. You come out at the end of that with a preferred alternative and then you're going to need to have an engineer do a design on that and you're g well you'll probably use that to go

144
00:44:04.319 --> 00:44:18.640
for grant money to do design and permitting for that preferred alternative and that's probably going to take nine months to a year. Um, and I mean to to actually assuming you

145
00:44:18.640 --> 00:44:35.599
get the money from from EA and then >> right >> align up what other funding to actually do that work is nine months to a year. >> Um, and then you're going to turn around after that and say we've got a turnkey

146
00:44:35.599 --> 00:44:50.480
project ready to go. Let's seek >> construction money from the grant programs. And it's pretty common to go to dam and seaw wall a couple of times to go for design and permitting funding and then the next year go for construction

147
00:44:50.480 --> 00:45:07.200
funding. Um that's very common to go back to the well for different phases of work over a period of two to three or four years um based on projects. Yeah. >> Okay. So that's not like a poor

148
00:45:07.200 --> 00:45:28.480
reflection on the town. >> No, that's really how it's designed to work. >> Okay. No, the fact that you are sitting up and paying attention to this um and maintaining communication with

149
00:45:28.480 --> 00:45:44.560
the office of dam safety. They like that. And um I think that goes in your favor when you go to apply for grant money. you can report all that your application.

150
00:45:44.560 --> 00:46:01.040
>> Well, like I said to you before, you've you've made it very easy for us and I really appreciate all the the extra work and coming to this short notice. Um it was it's really helpful to have you guys on board. >> Glad to hear it. Glad to be able to do it.

151
00:46:01.040 --> 00:46:16.560
>> Um that was a great information and a nice overview. Um, Eric, did you have any other questions before we vote on signing the >> No, Mark Rivers has one I noticed there. >> Mark,

152
00:46:16.560 --> 00:46:33.920
>> um, uh, this is this is probably for Haley. Um, part of the funding that we already received was from a community preservation act funds. Do we need to go circle back with them to indicate that we're going to be changing the use of that money? Uh we yeah I think we might

153
00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:50.000
want to just loop them in that the project scope has changed >> and we can give them the these materials from GZA. I think before you >> I don't know does GZA do you want to be cut loose? I don't think I have any more questions for you.

154
00:46:50.000 --> 00:47:06.720
>> I don't Eric. Yeah. >> Well, I'm upset. I appreciate the answers and your your thoughts even though they even though they are expensive potentially expensive. >> Sorry. You know, owning a dam >> I want to know. I think we should know.

155
00:47:06.720 --> 00:47:23.839
We got to know. >> Yeah, you need to know. But, you know, owning a dam is not a not a cheap uh undertaking. It's it's a lot of responsibility. >> Yeah. So, >> especially if you have a historic one.

156
00:47:23.839 --> 00:47:46.400
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Mark, I see your hand again. Mark, >> you're muted if you're trying to say something. >> I'm sorry. Um, this is a question for Nate, and you don't have to give a

157
00:47:46.400 --> 00:48:04.480
definitive answer. Uh, but someone in town is going to be asking how long is the lake going to be down for five feet. >> Is that >> um Well, that's that's a good question. Um, like I said, uh, DCR is reviewing the

158
00:48:04.480 --> 00:48:22.000
preliminary plan that we submitted. Um, once we get comments back from them and any changes we need to make, um, we can update it. we can update uh the cost estimate if need needed and

159
00:48:22.000 --> 00:48:37.920
and then in the meantime hopefully we're going to be able to line help help you line up some funding through the dam seaw wall program um the conversations that that uh Adrian said she's trying to have with them. Um,

160
00:48:37.920 --> 00:48:54.000
so we get that I I'm, you know, I'm hoping we can get this repaired sometime by mid January. Um, >> you know, it's tough. These are tough conditions to work in because of the

161
00:48:54.000 --> 00:49:10.800
cold. Um, but it has to be done. It's a pretty isolated project. So, it's right there in front of the gate house. It's all all all all all concentrated in that area. All goes well, we get it all

162
00:49:10.800 --> 00:49:27.280
done the way we have envisioned it, we hope to be able to raise the lake up right after that. Um, back to the winter pool. Um, in terms of restoring it to summer pool, I don't know. Um, we, you know, we

163
00:49:27.280 --> 00:49:43.119
I think we're going to have to do a little trial and error when that time comes and be out there to monitor what we see. I think this solution is going to be a good temporary solution

164
00:49:43.119 --> 00:50:00.240
um because it it just it it'll take all the pressure off the upstream face of the dam and allow all the water to have a preferential path that's non-erodable. That's kind of the key thing. So,

165
00:50:00.240 --> 00:50:15.839
so yeah, hopefully mid January, late end of January, you can have that all done and get the lake back up. >> Let's assume you can't. Let's assume I'm I'm a pessimist. So, let's assume the worst possible case that wouldn't

166
00:50:15.839 --> 00:50:32.160
happen. And maybe Mark would know the answer this. What What does that do to the boating situation? the the recreational use of the lake. If let's say we we could bring everything back up to two feet below um the summer pool,

167
00:50:32.160 --> 00:50:47.040
whatever, >> what does that do to the whole situation? >> Um it certainly doesn't affect fishing um or boating out of fishing out of boats. Um I don't think it's going to have any real effect on kind of normal

168
00:50:47.040 --> 00:51:02.400
summer activities. Uh, one area I would be concerned with is that I believe there are a number of camps around the lake that use that still have shallow water wells. Um, and I know one specifically that when the lake goes down two feet, they don't have any water

169
00:51:02.400 --> 00:51:20.160
and um, so that and I'm not sure how widespread that is at this stage. I only know of one specific camp and there used to be many. So that could be a problem in that is access to, you know, water for the for the for the camps. Um,

170
00:51:20.160 --> 00:51:37.200
other than that, I think um, you know, getting boats in and out will be all it will be trickier because the because the boat ramp is already kind of in a little bit of deteriorated situation. And so with the water down two feet, it, you know, it's going to be harder to get

171
00:51:37.200 --> 00:51:53.599
boats in on a regular basis, especially dayboers who come up for the, you know, the for the day and um, you know, aren't familiar with, you know, the the very low water levels. So there's a there's a number of things I think we have to ask a number of other people what the

172
00:51:53.599 --> 00:52:11.680
implications of of a of a of a a year round two-foot draw down. Well, I think that's something we can tackle on on the town side. And, you know, I think we'll just have to look at, you know, we don't want to scare people into thinking that they're they're not going to have a good summer,

173
00:52:11.680 --> 00:52:28.680
but I think we we definitely want to let people know ahead of time that this might be something to expect that there's not well, there might be some surprises, but if we can lessen the surprise impact, um, so maybe we want to plan some some outreach the lake.

174
00:52:33.760 --> 00:52:51.359
Okay. Um I think we're ready. The select board's ready to vote to sign on that. Nate, we we um I think you and Adrian can can um duck off while we have our vote and then um we'll sign it and get it to you. Uh Haley has u had a solution

175
00:52:51.359 --> 00:53:06.880
for us to be able to sign it electronically to get it to you. So you'll have it within a little bit. Great. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thanks for your time. >> Thanks for your time. >> Thanks for your your expertise. >> Yes, we appreciate it very much.

176
00:53:06.880 --> 00:53:22.160
>> You're welcome. Take care. >> Thank you. >> Um, Eric, do I hear a motion to >> motion? Yeah. Okay. Say it and I'll I'll say yes. >> Okay. Let me just uh log on to Let me

177
00:53:22.160 --> 00:53:44.240
just open up the um agreement again. I had I had it up to here once. Let's see. Um, okay. Um, to sign the GZA proposal for Lake Wyola Dam contract amendment number two,

178
00:53:44.240 --> 00:54:00.160
emergency services. >> So move. >> Um, I'll second that since there is only two of us. And all those in favor? stalk her eye. >> Make peace eye. Um

179
00:54:00.160 --> 00:54:16.000
yeah, perfect. Uh Haley, did you would um It's in our folder uh from last night's meeting. Do you want me to sign that electronically or send it to you? >> No, if you can just do the one I sent you earlier. Okay. And I um while before

180
00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:32.720
we leave, um I did speak to Gail today about how we might deal with these construction costs. So, I think it would be a good idea if you could also declare an emergency under Mass General Laws uh chapter 44 section 31 because that will

181
00:54:32.720 --> 00:54:50.480
allow us to deficit spend um to do the repair work and then we can always you know if we get the grant or if we identify some other opportunity scale so we can backfill and put that back into the general funds. >> Can you give me the Mass General Law quote again? >> Yep. It's Mass General Law chapter 44

182
00:54:50.480 --> 00:55:06.960
section 31. And so that gives the the spending authority the ability to deficit spend to address the emergency. >> Okay. So, I'll make a motion that we uh declare state of emergency um for the

183
00:55:06.960 --> 00:55:23.839
Lake Wyola Dam um for in accordance with Mass General Law 44 section 31 um so that we're able to appropriately spend funding um on the repairs.

184
00:55:23.839 --> 00:55:41.599
>> So moved. >> Okay, I'll second that. Um, all those in favor >> stalker I >> big piece O'Neal I >> um was there anything else we needed to do? >> I don't think so. I think I would just highlight that um like what Nat said,

185
00:55:41.599 --> 00:55:59.040
you know, we're we're Lenny and everyone like really on top of it. So, as much as this is a huge cost to the town, you know, we're optimistic, I think, that we'll get some grant funding, but at least we, you know, we're managing this and we're not putting it off to the

186
00:55:59.040 --> 00:56:14.240
wayside to deal with like during the summer months, like which would be terrible. >> Yeah. No, true, true. And before spring um snow melt and all of that too, right? So, we are ahead of it. >> Yeah. No, the the fact that we're quite

187
00:56:14.240 --> 00:56:31.040
right on it is is indicative of us paying attention to the whole situation all the time, which is I think very helpful as far as the state's concerned. >> Yeah. And Walter getting in the wet suit and >> absolutely >> finding that. Um yeah, he's uh

188
00:56:31.040 --> 00:56:46.000
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. and and listen just you know listening listening to Howie the damkeeper and to Walter and hey there's a problem here and and you know taking it seriously at that moment and being proactive and not reactive um in this case slightly reactive because of the

189
00:56:46.000 --> 00:57:04.559
the holes that have appeared but you know trying to be as proactive as possible. So kudos to everybody. >> All right. So do I hear a motion to adjurnn? So move. >> I'll second that. So all in favor,

190
00:57:04.559 --> 00:57:19.400
>> Starker. I >> McPe O'Neal. I >> All right. >> All right. >> Have a good night. >> Have a good night. Thank you. >> Thank you.