Wilton officials said Monday that of the two dams in town discussed at Town Meeting, Frog Pond Dam is classified as a significant hazard, not a high-hazard dam in terms of its integrity. 

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau classifies dams in four categories of safety: non-menace, low hazard, significant hazard and high hazard. A 2023 report prepared by SLR International Corporation concluded that Frog Pond Dam presented the less-significant hazard, relative to the New Reservoir Dam, which was designated a high-hazard structure by the bureau. 

At Monday’s Select Board meeting, Town Administrator Nick Germain said that one issue with Frog Pond Dam is geography. 

“The water at the Frog Pond is in Milford. In 2023, the Select Board asked me to approach Milford to see if their conservation commission or select board were interested in contributing to any mitigation, and they weren’t interested, so we’re on our own. To my knowledge, we’re not going to be able to get a significant grant for mitigation or dam removal because it’s only a significant hazard,” said Germain.

“New Reservoir is a high-hazard dam,” added Germain, reiterating the cost of addressing it to be more than $1 million, for which a mitigation grant would cover 65%. “We’re waiting on the Dam Bureau to approve an emergency action plan that the town could adopt.”

In other news, the Select Board approved purchases of a Ford F-550 truck for plowing and sanding not to exceed $113,000, and a six-wheeler dump truck, the cost not to exceed $240,000.

In another matter, the building at the recycling center where metals are sorted is in need of repair.

“It’s literally falling down,” said Germain.

The town has received a quote for repairs for Brookstone Construction for $127,770, but as the towns of Greenville, Lyndeborough, Temple and Mason also use the center, the Select Board did not act upon this matter Monday. 

Remembering Doehner 

The board received word that Bernard Doehner, chair of the Trustees of the Trust Funds, had died. Board members were planning to share a letter from Doehner stating that he would be stepping down from his position due to his health, but instead announced his passing and expressed gratitude for this service to the town. 

“We’ll miss Bernie,” said board Chair Kermit Williams.

TD Bank closing

It was announced that the TD Bank branch on Elm Street will be closing in June. As the town offices use this bank, along with many townspeople, the board noted that this will present a genuine inconvenience for many. Another branch in Milford remains open.

The board also thanked Cap t. Bruce Hadley for his service, as he is retiring from the Wilton Fire Department. It also presented a plaque in gratitude to Matt Fish, who stepped aside last year after two terms on the Select Board. Fish remains on the Planning Board.

Former Select Board Chair DJ Garcia was appointed deputy town treasurer, and Margie Lemay was appointed to the town’s Heritage Commission.

On Sunday, there will be a joint retirement party for Fire Chief Don Nourse and Police Chief Eric Olesen at the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle School High School cafeteria from 2 to 4 p.m. People are encouraged to bring food and thank Nourse and Olesen for their service to the town.