Special Selectboard 8/4/26

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Special Selectboard Minutes 08-04-26 146 KB

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Town of Richmond 
Special Selectboard Meeting
Minutes of August 4, 2026

Members Present: 
Bard Hill, Greg Rabideau, David Sander 

 

Absent: Adam Wood, Caitlin Filkins

Staff Present:  Josh Arneson, Town Manager; Duncan Wardwell, Deputy Town 

Others Present: Recorded by MMCTV Tom Astle, Andrew Bessette, Branden Martin, Bruce LaBounty, Eric Ladensack, Evelyn Boardman, Hartsfield, Jack Linn, Mary Houle, Meghan Arpino, Virginia Clarke

MMCTV Video: https://www.youtube.com/live/lwyAOJsn0Lc?si=GEmg6xB3CDZ52WOt 

Call to Order: 7:04 PM

 

Welcome by:  Sander

The other two members of the Selectboard approved Sander as Chair.

 

Public Comment:  None

Additions, Deletions or Modifications to Agenda:  None 

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Presentation and discussion of the Flood Mitigation Alternatives Analysis for the Winooski River and its Tributaries
Richmond AlternativesAnalysisMemo Compiled 
Timestamp:  0:06

Arneson summarized that this is a study funded by a grant funding.  The goal of the study is to complete conceptual design for flood mitigation project. The meeting will review the study of 42 potential flood mitigation projects. There will be an action item on August 17 for the Selectboard to select a project to advance conceptual design.  Rapinoe, from Stone Environmental, will give a presentation and help guide the discussion.

Rapinoe and Boardman presented the alternatives analysis portion of the Richmond Engineering Services for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project development.  They looked at the Jonesville/Stage Rd Brook, Snipe Ireland/Snipe Island Brook, and Huntington River areas.  The Final Report and Application is targeted to be completed in November 2026. Boardman presented the Hydraulic Study where the public might have seen the helicopter collecting the river bottom data.  Boardman confirmed that the maps are not a regulatory study.  Rapinoe stated that the scope of this project was the 2-D modeling of the main stem of the Winooski River and then some specific tributaries. Rapinoe presented the Methods for completing a final flood scoping study report of Existing conditions, Hydraulic modeling, Alternative analysis, Short & long-term flood resiliency in Richmond. Rapinoe illustrated the Matrix Criteria and Scoring for different projects and where feedback will be incorporated.  Rapinoe and Boardman presented the different Alternatives.  Sander and Hill illustrated many issues with the stormwater associated with I-89 and Rt2.   Houle, LaBounty, Ladensack, and Linn provided feedback during the report.  The Alternatives Analysis – Recommendations for Concept Design Phase listed as:
Recommendations:  
-Stage Road Culverts Replace & Upsize
Alternatives:  
-Snipe Island Culvert Replace & Upsize
-Millet Street Gravel Wetland and Closed Drainage
-Town Water System Well Floodproofing
-Floodplain restoration (requires additional landowner support)
Next Steps:
-Analysis in final project review
-Feasible alternatives to support on-going flood resilience


 Adjourn

Rabideau moved to adjourn. Hill seconded. 
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Rabideau, Sander in favor.  Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at:  9:17 PM

Chat file from Zoom:  None