Gilford Selectboard approves $20K investment in Glendale docks

GILFORD — The selectboard approved spending $22,000 for projects at Glendale docks last week.

According to Town Administrator Scott Dunn, $10,000 is for biweekly dock monitoring this summer to ensure safety and stability. The other $12,000 is for a permit application to replace and expand the three docks, “if possible.”

Dunn told the selectboard on April 22, their input was needed concerning docks and paving improvements at Glendale Marina.

Public Works Director Meghan Theriault said the town budgeted to pave the lower and upper lots at Glendale in the Capital Improvement Plan. She requested estimates from Busby Construction last year, but did not receive them, so used regular paving costs. This year, she determined drainage work was needed, not originally budgeted in the cost.

“So, the proposal that came in was more than what we budgeted,” Theriault said.

The second issue, she said, pertained to the dock assessment the town received in February. She said they know the docks need work, and there has been concern about some of the piers moving due to ice. Last year, they hired an engineering company to prepare a report on dock conditions for planning purposes.

“We had an assessment done that said, yes, the concrete on the docks has reached end of life, and we need to start planning on replacing the concrete top structure,” Theriault said. “In addition, that is inhibiting us from having easy access to repairs underneath.”

She repairs tend to be done in the off season, so if the concrete is removed, they would install decking. Theriault said Dock 1 needs the most work, followed by Dock 2.

“We’ve been working on the stuff, but now we’re getting to the point where it is more than just the budgeted amount of operating repairs we have annually,” she said. “Before we press forward with any paving work, should we time out and talk about, we’ve got this report and the report is suggesting we do monitoring of the dock over the summer.”

She said the monitoring would make sure there is no movement through the season, and if there is, repairs are needed.

The other recommendation is to start the permit replacement process, because that could take time. She said repairs need to be done on Dock 1 soon, and a permit is needed before anything is done. The estimated cost of $12,000 assumes a worst-case scenario for a full dredge and fill permit.

“Sometimes, if your scope is limited enough in [the Department of Environmental Service's] eyes they let you do a PBN, which is a permit by notification, and if so, the cost will be less,” she said.

Theriault said a shoreland permit is likely not needed due to the scope of the project, as it has no impact on wetlands.

Theriault said her department has $140,000 to use this year, but paving work is far beyond that. Her recommendation was to take that money, start monitoring, start the permit process, and do drainage work. She said with information gathered over the summer, and a good number from the engineering firm, they can bring it forward at budget time to discuss what work needs to be on Dock 1.

The cost estimate for just drainage of the lower lot is $46,000, and the total is $60,000 with paving. The upper lot estimate is about $55,000 in drainage, which includes $20,000 to help with water bleeding up.

Theriault said any paving or drainage projects in the parking lot need to happen before Memorial Day, or after Labor Day, and asked for the selectboard’s guidance.

“I would be in favor of, if we’re going to do a project like this, we do it right,” said Vice Chair Gus Benavides. “Instead of trying to piecemeal.”

He related the situation to roads where a shim overlay is done, and then it deteriorates within a few years, because it wasn’t addressed correctly.

“I understand that it is much cheaper to do bandaids, but now we are at that point where the dock is used so much, that area is used so much,” said Benavides.

He added the docks aren’t just for island residents, but available for anyone in town.

“This affects any and all residents of Gilford,” he said. “My concern would be if we spent money on paving, and then all of a sudden we have to rip up parts of pavement again, to fix issues.”

Benavides said if the work is going to be done, it cannot be rushed, and proper drainage must be included so pavement is intact for decades to come. He said they are blessed to have the docks for lake access for the residents.

“I cannot disagree with you to do this once,” said Chair Chan Eddy. “Take the approach that is going to give us the biggest bang for the buck, even if it means delaying things for a little bit.”

Clerk Richard Grenier said the recommendation from Theriault has a price tag of about $92,000, and asked if there is enough money to properly take care of the upper lot.

“No, because the upper lot is a $170,000 estimate, and we have $143,000 in the fund,” Dunn said.

Dunn said the CIP targeted a $1 million bond in 2030, to replace all three docks. He thinks $22,000 would be money well spent on the docks. He said his goal would be to replicate what Marine Patrol did with their docks: a complete rebuild.

“So, I think the $22,000 for the dock work now is money we need to spend. And my recommendation for the parking lots would be hold off all work this year, next year do the upper lots with drainage, paving, everything, and hold off on the lower lot,” Dunn said. “Because I think when we start doing dock construction, chances are we are going to beat up that parking lot.”

Dunn said he recommended leaving money in the reserve account in case something urgent happens to infrastructure at the docks.

The board voted 3-0 to spend $22,000 on the permitting and monitoring as recommended.