Memo

To:        Dam Committee

From:  Lucille Munz

Date:  April 30, 2025

RE:      Summary & Updates on Site Meeting on March 25, 2025 Attendees:

• Scot Evans
• Lucille Munz
• Joe Cermele, Town Engineer
• John Winter, Town Superintendent of Highways
• Jan Johannnessen, Town Planner/Wetlands Consultant

 

Meeting Summary:

 

• We provided Joe Cermele the Town Engineer with copies of the Dam Study by CT Male, Associates.

 

• Cermele and Mr. Johannessen both noted that the lake is now DEC regulated lake and water course.

 

• And as such, any improvements no matter how minor need DEC permits.

• The Town also seemed to evade any responsibility for the drainage inlets going into the area, as well as responsibility for the bridge over the dam. I pointed out that as well as Scot Evans that the town has been maintaining the roadway and installing the guardrails on the dam, without any approval and/or engineering studies and therefore were responsible for any damage to the dam’s structural integrity.  Basically, I noted that we were “all in this together. “ 

• Several items were discussed
  1. Embankment stabilization with soil
  2. Drainage impacts from the inlets to the dam
  3. Structural integrity of the bridge/roadway
  4. Dead Tree Removal
  5. Future valve installation

 

• Next steps as discussed with the town are as follows:
  1. Any improvements and/or work, even the embankment repairs, will need DEC approval and as such a Wetlands delineation and mapping needs to be completed.
  2. The stabilization of the Dam, filling soil, rip rap and overseeding, will require a drawing and permits. The Town suggested working with CT Male, for the drawings and Steve Marino of Time Miller Associates for the permits.  John Winter also noted that they could supply the soil at no cost.  We would need to hire a siteworks contractor to install the soil, rip rap and overseeding.
  3. Several dead trees were noted during the visit, they do not require permits for removal if there is no heavy equipment withing the wetland. They can be removed and dropped and dragged out of the area.
  4. An updated topographic survey may be needed to do any engineering design as well as permitting.
  5. Scot and I discussed doing a dye test of several of the inlets in the area that may impact the dam embankment and report back to the town to get them to make repairs as soon as possible.

Updated information:

• I requested that my office traffic engineer check with the State DOT to get any copies of current bridge/roadway/dam inspection. He filed a freedom of information request, and we received a copy of the report on 4/30/2025.  I forwarded the report to Scot and CT Male Associates.

• I called CT Male Associates “to discuss the meeting with had with the Town” and C.T. Male Associates Kathryn Serra, stated that:

1. They believe that the Town is mistaken regarding permit requirements for Dam maintenance, especially if we are following the directions of a current engineering report. This specifically  refers to the placement of soil, rip rap and grass seed, as well as dead tree removal.  Serra, of CT Male Associates, will be reaching out to the DEC representative to confirm this in writing and forward their response to us to share with the Town.  They believe we do not need a permit for this work, nor do we need drawings.   If that is the case, we can work on a plan to implement soil, rip rap, seeding and tree removal.
2. Serra is checking with their environmental wetland’s inspector, to get a quote on wetland delineation and flagging, as this would be required for any large-scale construction project.
3. Serra noted that the DEC would most likely require us to complete the repairs to the spillway at the same time as the construction of a new gate valve. I request that her firm provide us with an hourly rate to potentially navigate a discussion with the DEC on the possibility of segmenting the work.  Any improvements to the spillway would require the Town to repair the bridge/roadway, making the entire project more complex.
4. We may need to have a meeting with the DEC representative to review the project scope and potential phasing, at which point C.T. Male Associates would be able to provide a more accurate proposal.
5. If the DEC states that we do not need a permit for the soil, we then can push back with the Town for help with the soil.

• We should get pricing to have the trees removed.
• We should get pricing to install the soil, seed and rip rap for a fall installation.