BRISTOL — Selectmen convened at Cummings Beach on West Shore Road to view the erosion on the site and discuss a proposed $28,000 mitigation plan to handle the runoff. They came away agreeing with Highway Supervisor Mark Bucklin that the proposed work would not solve the erosion problem, but that it would make the beach a nicer place for families to come and relax.
The selectmen made no decision about the project on July 16, either at the beach or when they reconvened in the meeting room of the Bristol Municipal Building. Instead, they planned to go over their findings with engineer Michael McNally who had proposed reducing the size of the parking area and creating a higher, grassed area that would serve to filter and disperse road runoff while also providing a place where people could spread out towels or blankets and sit overlooking Newfound Lake.
Bucklin pointed to the raised lip at the edge of the parking lot, saying that it prevents water from flowing down and eroding the beach, instead channeling it to the catch basin and culvert. Pointing to where the erosion was occurring, Bucklin told the selectmen that he believes it is the lake itself that is causing the erosion.
Newfound Lake has both the Cockermouth and Fowler rivers flowing into it, while it has a single outlet at the Newfound River. That flow of water has helped to make Newfound “the cleanest lake east of the Mississippi” according to local lore.
Bucklin believes that the lake current has shifted in recent years, bringing it closer to Cummings Beach and causing the erosion of the banks.
The state also has kept the lake at higher levels in recent years, which benefits places like Mayhew Island, where rocks make navigation to the island difficult when the lake level is low. The Newfound Lake Region Association has noticed other areas of erosion, as well, and Bristol selectmen have sent a letter to the New Hampshire Dam Bureau seeking a study of the lake to determine what is causing the problem.
Selectman Don Milbrand said it might be worth spending the money, even if it did not address the erosion problem, if it would make the beach a nicer place to be.
The project would not require additional money because of encumbered funds from the project design, according to Chair Rick Alpers.
In other business, Boyd Smith of the Newfound Lake Region Association gave a presentation on the Fowler River watershed which is Bristol’s main water supply. Most of the watershed lies within the town of Alexandria but Smith said it would be helpful for Bristol officials to support watershed protection efforts.
He noted that 20 percent of New Hampshire’s MTBE settlement money is earmarked for land conservation and it could be applied to sourcewater protection in Alexandria. The settlement was from a multi-state lawsuit against oil companies that polluted wells when the fuel additive MTBE — although it was federally approved — was found to be contaminating drinking water.
Smith said the next round of grants is a year away, but his organization would be working to set up easements with the five landowners in the main watershed area. He noted that the funding is in the form of a matching grant, so it would be necessary to raise the money for the local match.
Lucille Keegan, a member of both the Downtown Decorating Committee and the Bristol Historical Society, persuaded the selectmen to approve a sign for the Old Town Hall on Summer Street that would rename it the Historic Bristol Town Hall. She argued that people are confused by the “Old Town Hall” name, thinking that is where they have to go to transact business with the town.
Selectman J.P. Morrison spoke for several people who were perplexed by that reasoning, since “Old Town Hall” implies that there is a new town hall where people would transact business, and the change still leaves “town hall” in the name.
“I know quite a few people who are not native, and they know the difference between the Old Town Hall and the Municipal Building,” Morrison said. “It’s been called the Old Town Hall forever, and I’d like to keep it as simple as possible.”
As silly as the argument for change may have been, Selectman Leslie Dion said, “Considering the amount of work they’re doing there, I think we should go with their recommendation.”
Selectman Wayne Anderson was absent and Morrison was the only one to vote against the change, making “Historic Bristol Town Hall” the new name for the structure.
Selectmen also heard from a team of real estate brokers who would like to represent Bristol in public-private partnerships that would enhance the town’s tax base, as well as engineers who want to update plans for extending the municipal sewer system to Newfound Lake.
The engineers, from Underwood Engineers Inc., of Concord, said time is of the essence because if they don’t make the deadline for the September grant cycle, the project would have to wait another year for the next round of grants. They said plans for Phase 1 of the sewer extension would cost about $40,000 with $30,000 potentially covered by the grant. The first phase would extend the sewer to about 350 customers, while the next phase would reach a more densely populated section by Newfound Lake, with 800 potential customers.
Alpers said extending the sewer lines would serve two purposes: promoting economic development and protecting “our gem,” Newfound Lake, from pollution.
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