CHAPTER 8
MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND
INFRASTRUCTURE
1.
Introduction
Population and housing growth often results in an
increase in the demand placed on municipal services and infrastructure
systems. Careful planning for this growth,
from a municipal services standpoint, is important in order to ensure that an
adequate level of service is provided to residents and businesses at a
manageable cost level. Additionally,
due to Conway’s attractiveness as a tourist and retail destination, municipal
service and infrastructure capacity and fiscal planning must also take into
account the increased demand for services created by the influx of seasonal
residents and tourists.
This chapter examines Conway’s municipal services
from the perspective of facility and equipment needs of the various town
departments to support existing and projected demand. Additionally, staffing levels are also discussed for each
respective department The facilities examined in this evaluation include the
Town Hall, police services, fire and emergency services, library, public works
and the school district. Map 8-1,
located at the end of the chapter, identifies the locations of each of the
facilities as well as the boundaries of various fire districts/precincts. In addition, the capacity and condition of
several public infrastructure systems are also described. These systems include water, sewer,
electric, natural gas and telecommunications.
Much of the information presented in this chapter was
obtained through interviews with town department heads and representatives from
each respective public infrastructure system.
Where applicable, recent studies of infrastructure systems were reviewed
and are cited within this chapter.
2.
Summary of
Findings and Conclusions
The following points summarize the municipal service
and infrastructure findings and conclusions presented within this chapter. Additionally, various implications
associated with Conway’s municipal services and infrastructure are
discussed.
In terms of Conway’s various facilities and
buildings, many are in generally good condition considering the age and
continual use. Specific infrastructure
and buildings findings include:
§
The Conway Town Hall is
in generally good condition. According
to the Town Manager, building systems and space requirements need some
attention. Specifically, approximately
1,500 square feet of additional space is needed for storage (with a particular
need for secure vault storage), meetings, and small office areas.
§
Based on interviews
with each of the Fire Chiefs, most of Conway’s Fire District’s/Precinct’s have
adequate facilities with the exception of the East Conway Precinct which
requires upgrades and renovations to its existing fire station.
§
With the exception of Pine
Tree Elementary School, all schools within the Conway School District are at or
above enrollment capacity and will require upgrades, renovations and additions
to the existing buildings.
§
The Conway Recreation
Center is in need of upgrades and renovations.
Based on recently completed public water and sewer
master plans for the North Conway Water Precinct (NCWP) and the Conway Village
Fire District (CVFD), and interviews with Precinct/District representatives,
water and sewer findings include:
§
Connecting the CVFD water treatment and
distribution system to NCWP’s system provides the most overall benefit to the
town. This strategy is recommended in
the CVFD Water Master Plan (CDM, 2002)[1]
and is the most cost effective solution to several distribution and treatment
issues facing the District. Connecting
the water system will enable the CVFD to accomplish the following: meet all
Insurance Services Office (ISO) requirements; improve water quality; provide a
back-up supply source and additional storage; and overall improved system
reliability. Necessary improvements
with this connection include:
o
Connection
to NCWP’s Pine Hill Tank;
o
Construction
of a new 12-inch diameter main on Route 16 (north of the Saco River);
o
Construction
of a new 12-inch diameter main on Route 16 (from the storage tanks to the
Cranmore Shores); and
o
Local
improvements on Washington Street, Haynesville Avenue and Tasker Hill Road
§
The CVFD is completing a feasibility and
implementation study to evaluate the financial and operations aspects of a
water and wastewater interconnection between the District and the North Conway
Water Precinct. If the study concludes
that interconnection is the best course of action, the consultant to the CVFD
suggests that the following steps should be taken:
o Develop an inter-municipal agreement between the
precincts setting forth the terms and conditions of the system
interconnections, connection fees, and user rates; and
o Continue to seek outside funding sources for needed
system capital improvements.
§
If an acceptable agreement can be reached
between the CVFD and the NCWP, and all wastewater flows are connected to the
NCWP system the following improvements would be necessary:
o Construction of a pump station and wastewater collection
system north of the Saco River to convey flows to North Conway;
o The installation of a new wastewater interceptor to
convey flows from the existing service area to the new pump station on the
north side of the Saco River;
o Upgrading the aeration system for the existing
wastewater treatment plant as an interim improvement before the connection is
made to NCWP.
Based on the findings and conclusions presented
throughout this chapter, implications about how Conway could change in the
future include:
§ The
continued growth of enrollment within the entire Conway School District has
placed considerable pressure on the town’s educational infrastructure. Pending the outcome of the Conway School
District’s AREA withdrawal study, a comprehensive facilities plan should be
developed by the District in order to address the town’s educational
infrastructure needs over the next ten years.
§ Although
Conway enjoys the benefits of having experienced and dedicated professionals
using some of the best equipment in the County, there may be opportunities to
better utilize fire protection resources.
Based on interviews with each of the Fire Chiefs, it appears that the
town as a whole could improve its fire protection services if the five separate
fire districts/precincts were coordinated, at the very least, on an
administrative and fiscal basis. At a
bare minimum, purchasing agreements, drafted in the form of memoranda of
understanding, should be initiated to purchase similar products, services, and
equipment used by each of the Precincts/Districts. Although coordination has been attempted in the past, the
potential administrative and fiscal advantages attained by an integrated fire
protection system could be significant and therefore should be revisited. It may be most beneficial for the town to
hire an outside consultant to conduct an examination for opportunities of coordination and
cooperation among Conway’s fire and emergency service providers.evaluate
Conway’s current fire and emergency system and recommend improvements.
§ In order to
reduce overlapping zoning requirements and bureaucratic formalities, the Town
of Conway’s Zoning Ordinance should be amended to include the Kearsarge
Lighting District’s Zoning Ordinance.
§
The CVFD Interconnection Feasibility Study
is anticipated to address NCWP residents and property owners’ concern that
water and wastewater expansion to areas outside the Precinct may use existing
capacity and limit future connection opportunities within the Precinct. If the Study determines that expansion can
be done by using surplus capacity and without future limitations to existing
service areas, both NCWP and CVFD should work with Precinct residents and
property owners to inform them of the advantages of this interconnection to the
larger community. Additionally, NCWP should continue to evaluate potential
future funding eligibility issues if additional revenues are collected from new
service areas outside the Precinct.
The Town of Conway Selectmen should work with both the CVFD and
the NCWP by informing residents and property owners in both service areas about
the advantages of inter-connected water and wastewater systems in terms of
resource protection and future economic opportunities; developing funding
solutions that recognize the difference in tax bases and financing capabilities
between the two service areas; and accessing state and federal funding sources
that are accessible only through the town (i.e. CDBG and CDAG grants).
3. Town Hall
Existing Services – The Conway Town Hall building is located on Route 302 in Center
Conway. The building houses many of the
town’s administrative departments including:
§
General Assistance
§
Finance Department
§
Town Clerk and Tax
Collector
§
Assessment Department
§
Planning and Zoning
Department
§
Treasurer
§
Engineering and Public
Works Department
§
Building Department
§
Town Manager.
In addition to the administrative departments, the
building contains a meeting room used by various town committees including the
Board of Selectmen. A total of sixteen
employees work within the administrative departments in the Town Hall.
The Town Hall was built in the 1870s and sits on a
site of approximately two acres. The
wood framed structure contains two stories for a total of approximately 5,400
square feet. The town’s administrative
functions are located on the first and second floors. The first floor contains all of the town’s administrative
departments with the exception of the Finance, Planning, Engineering, and
Building Departments which are located on the second floor. A meeting room is also located on the second
floor.
The Town Hall is handicap accessible with a
wheelchair ramp located at the rear of the building. Parking is provided by approximately twenty spaces which are
located behind the building.
Needs Assessment – According to information provided by the Town Manager, the building
is in good overall condition and is structurally sound. The building’s condition has, however,
deteriorated somewhat over the past few years as a result of deferred
maintenance.
According to the Town Manager, although the Town Hall
is generally in good repair, building systems need to be upgraded and there is
a shortage of space. Needed
improvements include HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) upgrades
and the installation of a fire suppression system. Energy efficient windows are also needed as well as some minor
remodeling of the first floor. The remodeling
will allow increased visibility and access, thereby improving safety and security
for staff and clients. All of these
improvements were addressed in the FY 2002 budget.
From an overall perspective, the building provides
adequate space for users and employees within the facility. While not critical at the moment, space needs
will have to be addressed within the next five to ten years. As shown in Table 8-1, space needs include a
variety of small offices, an employee break room, and storage. While some additional space may be created
through remodeling, without the acquisition of additional building space, this
issue will remain outstanding. The Town
Manager estimates that approximately 1,500 square feet of additional space is
needed.
|
Table
8-1. Estimated Town Hall Space
Requirements |
|
|
Conway,
New Hampshire |
|
|
Space Type |
SF
Req. |
|
Storage |
100 |
|
Copy
room |
200 |
|
Small
meeting room |
150 |
|
Computer
room |
100 |
|
Break
room |
150 |
|
Interns,
checklist |
200 |
|
Assessors
help |
100 |
|
Unspecified
Expansion |
500 |
|
Total |
1,500 |
|
Source: Town of Conway |
|
4.
Community
Centers
The Town of Conway has one community center[2],
the Conway Recreation Center, located in Center Conway east of the Town
Hall.
Existing Services – Conway Recreation Center – The Conway Recreation Center is located on Route
302 in Center Conway approximately one mile east of the Conway Town Hall. The main part of the building, formerly used
as a school, was constructed in the late nineteenth century is a single story
(with basement) wood framed structure.
The building is the headquarters for the Conway Recreation
Department. Adjacent to the building is
a brick gymnasium facility which was constructed in the 1980s. Connected to the main structure, located
next to the gymnasium, is a small single story building which houses various
administrative offices. Surrounding the
complex are approximately five acres of property that contain sports fields,
play structures and parking facilities.
The main structure is divided into several rooms
which accommodate Recreation Department offices and space for recreation
programs and events. According to the
Town Manager, there are a number of surplus offices in the building that are
currently leased to community groups.
Whether these offices will continue to be leased to outside parties is
currently undetermined.
Needs Assessment – Overall the complex is in good structural condition. However, there are a number of upgrades and
renovations needed within the buildings.
The Town Manager anticipates that the heating, ventilation and
air-conditioning (HVAC) system needs to be upgraded, as well as the replacement
of the roof and windows. Furthermore,
the existing play structure may need to be upgraded as it was constructed with
wooden poles. The Town Manager
anticipates that the renovations, upgrades and replacements need to be
completed within the next five years. A
cost estimate has not yet been prepared for the needed repairs.
5.
Police Services
Existing Services – Conway’s police services are administered from the police station
located at the intersection of Route 302 and East Conway Road. The building, which was constructed in 1988,
is a single story wood framed structure with brick veneer. According to construction plans, the
building contains approximately 8,400 square feet which is entirely occupied by
the police department. It should be
noted that a second structure, the Northern Carroll County District Courthouse
located next to the police station, was constructed at the same time as the
police station. The Town of Conway
currently owns the courtroom structure and leases it to Carroll County for a
period of twenty years. Upon expiration
of the lease, the building will become the property of the County. Although the courthouse is technically owned
by the town and is on town property, existing services and needs assessment
information will only be provided for the police station.
Police operations within the building include
administrative offices, two evidence rooms, conference room, dispatch room,
lunch room, equipment room/armory, records/archives room, and seven detention
cells. The west side of the building
contains two garage stalls. The garage
stalls are designed to serve a multitude of uses including a secure means of
bringing detainees into the adjoining lock-up cells for intake and short-term
detention, as well as for storage, minor vehicle maintenance and impounding
evidence.
Full-time staffing for the department includes 21
sworn patrol officers, two administrative assistants and seven dispatch
personnel. The dispatch operations
housed at the police station are exclusively for the police department. However, a recent upgrade of the police
radio and dispatch system has enabled the Conway Police Department to link with
the Conway Village Fire Department’s communication system. Having the systems linked provides backup
radio and dispatch services for either department in the event that their system
should go off-line. The entire town of
Conway is covered by enhanced “911” service for both fire and police
protection.
The Department’s capital needs are primarily
associated with regular vehicle replacement.
The inventory currently includes six marked cruisers, two
unmarked/semi-marked cruisers which are used by the Chief and Detectives, two
four-by-four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), one crime scene van, and three
bicycles.
Needs Assessment – Overall, the police station is in very good condition and the Police Chief
does not anticipate any major structural changes for at least ten years. The only short-term building requirement
that needs attention is the lack of storage space for records and archives. The current space presently being utilized
for record and archive storage will need to be reconfigured to accommodate
additional records and files.
From a personnel standpoint, with the addition of two
new sworn officers during 2002, staffing levels appear to be appropriate for
providing service during seasonal fluctuations in population experienced within
the town. There could potentially be a
need for part-time officers to assist full-time officers during the summer
months. However, the expense associated
with training officers justifies hiring only full-time officers.
In terms of vehicular requirements, outside of
regular rotation of police vehicles, there are no planned additions to the
current vehicle fleet over the next few years.
6. Fire and
Emergency Services
Fire protection and emergency services for the town
of Conway are administered through five separate and distinct fire
departments. As shown in Map 8-1 at the
end of the chapter, all of the departments function within the respective
precinct or district that includes: North Conway Water/Fire Precinct; Center
Conway Fire Precinct; Conway Village Fire District; East Conway Fire Precinct;
and the Redstone Fire District.
However, the North Conway Precinct, and the Conway Village District, and the Center
Conway Fire Precinct serve communities outside of Conway including the
Towns of Bartlett,
and EatonAlbany, and Eaton. A series of formal and informal service
and/or mutual agreements have also been organized between each of the
districts/precincts and communities outside of Conway.
All of the fire districts/precincts have the
authority to raise revenues through taxation of properties within each
respective district or precinct. Some of Tthe
districts/precincts often use other fund raising efforts,
such as raffles and social events, to complement their regular appropriations.
Fire protection and emergency personnel for each of
the respective districts/precincts include a combination of full-time and call
(part-time) staff, as well as additional administrative support staff in some cases. North Conway and Conway Village are the only
districts which employ full-time staff (Chief/Assistant Chief). The remainder of the positions in each
respective district are filled by call staff which are available on an
as-needed basis. A total of thirty
pieces of major equipment (vehicles, etc.) are currently in use by the
individual districts/precincts for fire and emergency duties throughout the
town. Table 8-2 provides a summary of
major equipment and personnel for each of Conway’s five fire districts/precincts.
|
Table 8-2. Fire Department Equipment and Personnel
Summary: 2002 |
|||||||
|
Town of Conway |
|||||||
|
|
North Conway |
Center Conway |
Conway Village |
East Conway |
Redstone |
Total |
|
|
Major Equipment |
6 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
30 |
|
|
Personnel, Full-Time |
2.5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4.5 |
|
|
Personnel, Part-Time/On Call |
40 |
20 |
43 |
20 |
20 |
143 |
|
|
Source: Conway Fire District/Precinct Fire Chiefs |
|||||||
As each of Conway’s fire districts/precincts are autonomous
units, existing services and the assessment of needs is provided on an
individual basis with information concerning existing facilities based on
discussions with each district/precinct’s Chief.
Existing Services – Center Conway Fire Precinct – The Center Conway Fire Precinct’s station is located
in Center Conway on Route 302 adjacent to the Conway Town Hall. The building is a single story structure
that was built in 1990. There is
approximately 5,000 square feet of building space which includes three garage
bays for vehicles, an office, meeting room, kitchen and dispatch area. The facility is located on approximately one
acre of land.
The building is owned by the Center Conway Fire
Precinct and responds to calls in Center Conway (approximately 12,000 acres or
19 square miles) and the Town of Eaton, Albany
and non-precinct areas in Conway Village.
The Precinct’s staff includes twenty call firefighters.
Vehicles presently located at this station include
two fire engines, an ambulance, a tanker and a reel truck which holds 2,200
feet of hose. The Precinct provides
fire protection, rescue services and first response emergency medical services
(EMS)..
North Conway Water/Fire Precinct – The North Conway Water/Fire Precinct’s station is located
at the Norcross Circle off of Route 16 near the Conway Scenic Railway in North
Conway. The building is a single story
structure of brick veneer construction that was constructed in 1963. The building contains approximately 7,200
square feet. In addition to the four
garage bays, the structure contains office space for the Chief/Assistant Chief
and administrative staff, meeting/lunch room, and storage facilities in the
basement. The structure is located on approximately
one acre of land.
The North Conway Fire Precinct’s jurisdiction is
approximately thirty sixthirty-six
square miles and incorporates all of North Conway, portions of the
Town of Bartlett,
Hales Location and some non-precinct areas. Staff at the Precinct includes a full-time Chief and Assistant
Chief, administrative support person and forty call firefighters.
Vehicles within the Precinct’s inventory include two
engines, a tanker, ladder truck, EMS/rescue vehicle, and one pickup support
truck. The Precinct is well equipped
and provides a wide array of fire and emergency services including fire
protection, EMS, search and rescue, and water rescue.
East Conway Fire Precinct – The East Conway Fire Precinct’s station is located
on East Conway Road in East Conway. The
building is a single story wood framed structure that was constructed in 1900
and sits on approximately one acre of land.
The building is the smallest of Conway’s fire stations at approximately
2,600 square feet. The structure has
two garage bays and a small office and has experienced several renovations and
upgrades over the past one hundred years.
The most recent renovation included raising the building and replacing
the foundation. In addition to the
station, the Precinct owns the East Conway Grange Hall and uses the facility
for Fire Precinct meetings, as well as a source of revenue through renting the
building for local social events.
The East Conway Fire Precinct’s jurisdiction
incorporates all of East Conway which is approximately defined as the area east
of Center Conway and west and north of Route 302. Members of the Precinct staff, including the Fire Chief, are all
on call. Vehicles within the Precinct’s
inventory include two engines, a tanker, snorkel truck carrying 2,700 feet of
4-inch hose and a utility truck.
Services provided by the Precinct are limited to fire protection
services.
Conway Village Fire District – The Conway Village Fire District’s station is
located on Route 16 in the heart of Conway Village. The building is a one and a half story structure that was built
in 1999 – the newest fire station within Conway. The structure contains approximately 15,500 square feet of space
with four garage bays and a host of other facilities including an office, lunch
room, bunk room, dispatch area, laundry and shower facilities. The building also contains an auxiliary
source of electrical power. The
structure is located on approximately one acre of land.
The Conway Village District’s jurisdiction
incorporates all of Conway Village and southern portions of West Side Road,
eastern portions of the Kancamangus Highway (Route 112), and the Town of
Albany. The Department has a formal mutual aid
agreement with the Town of Madison.
Ambulance service includes all the areas listed and the entire southern
half of Conway to the Maine/New Hampshire state line. District staff includes a full-time Chief, an Assistant Chief, a
part-time administrative assistant, and 42 call staff.
The District has a varied vehicle and equipment inventory
including three engines, two ambulances, ladder truck, forestry truck, heavy
rescue EMS vehicle, reel truck, EMS trailer, and one sport utility support
vehicle. The wide array of vehicles and
equipment allows the Precinct to perform fire protection, EMS, ambulance,
search and rescue, and confined space rescue services.
Redstone Fire District – The Redstone Fire District station is located on
Route 302 in the Village of Redstone.
The building is a single story cinder block facility that was originally
built in the 1950s. The structure has
experienced additions and upgrades over the past forty years with the latest
addition, a third garage bay, completed in 2000. The building site is approximately one acre with the structure
being approximately 3,000 square feet in size.
The Redstone Fire District’s jurisdiction
incorporates all of the village of Redstone – essentially an area adjacent to
the North Conway, Conway Village and Center Conway service areas. The twenty members of the Precinct staff,
including the Fire Chief, are all on call.
The total vehicle inventory for the District includes
two pumper trucks and one tanker truck which are used exclusively to provide
fire protection services.
Needs Assessment – Center Conway Fire Precinct – As one of the newest fire stations within Conway, the
structure has incorporated most of the features required by modern fire
departments of a similar size. However,
according to the Center Conway Fire Chief, the building lacks suitable laundry and
shower facilities which are scheduled to be installed in 2002.
In terms of vehicle needs, the Precinct has no plans
to add to their existing fleet of vehicles outside of regular vehicle
replacement. It is anticipated that the
Precinct’s tanker truck will have to be replaced within the next few
years.
North Conway Fire Precinct – According to the Fire Chief, current space within
the Precinct’s building is adequate.
Future
building expansions may be necessary to accommodate operational enhancements.
The North Conway fire station has a number of
issues related to building design. As
with some other fire stations within Conway, there is inadequate meeting,
office and storage space within the current structure. The design of the existing structure places
emphasis on space within the garage bays with limited space for other uses
which are valued by modern fire departments.
According to the Fire Chief, the existing station needs to be expanded
by approximately 3,000 square feet to accommodate new meeting, office and
storage space. Any addition to the
existing structure will have to contend with the limited amount of developable
land.
In terms of equipment, the Chief anticipates that
communications equipment in the form of radio dispatch and computer systems
should be upgraded within the next few years.
Although the Chief does not anticipate adding any new pieces of major
equipment to the current inventory, the Precinct’s existing ladder truck will
have to be replaced in the next several years.
East Conway Fire Precinct – The East Conway Precinct’s station has a number of
issues related to building design. As
with most stations, there is inadequate space to accommodate the office and
training needs of the Precinct. The
station could use another garage bay to accommodate potential future vehicle
and equipment needs. Although a formal
facilities plan has not been drafted, the Chief feels that these types of uses
could be incorporated into the current structure through upgrades and
additions.
In terms of equipment and vehicles, the Chief feels
that the Precinct will be able to provide fire protection services over the
next five or more years with the current inventory of equipment and
vehicles.
Conway Village Fire District – The Conway Village Fire District station is in good
condition and functions very well according to the Chief. There is adequate space for staff, vehicles
and equipment and the building is well sited with regard to the roadway.
Outside of regular upgrades of vehicles and
equipment, there are no anticipated vehicle or equipment needs for the
foreseeable future. For example, two
new thermal imaging cameras have recently been purchased, as well new air
packs. These additional equipment items
should meet the District’s needs for the next few years.
Redstone Fire District – With the recent upgrades and additions to the
existing station, the facility functions well and should not need major
improvements for many years according to the Chief. There is also adequate space in the upgraded building to handle
equipment and staff needs.
The Chief anticipates the necessity to add equipment
for the District to provide non-transport ambulance service. This type of service provides immediate
emergency medical attention to patients prior to the arrival of an
ambulance. Although no new vehicles
will be required for the new service, the Chief indicated that approximately
$3,000 in medical equipment will be needed.
Furthermore, the existing tanker truck will need to be replaced within
the next few years as part of the District’s ongoing vehicle replacement
program. A used tanker truck should be
adequate to handle the District’s needs and it is estimated to cost
approximately $40,000. Both the medical
equipment and the tanker truck are items which have been budgeted as part of
the District’s capital improvements program.
7. Library
Existing Services – The town’s municipal library is located at the corner of Route 16 and
302 in Conway Village. Library services
are delivered from a two-level historic masonry building that was constructed
in 1900 and comprises approximately 8,000 square feet. The structure is situated on approximately
three acres of land. The history of the
building is unique with initial funding for the construction of the structure
being provided by a lawyer/philanthropist at the turn of the century. According to the Head Librarian, the main
level was the only useable area within the building until 1984, when the
basement was renovated. Parking is
provided by fourteen spaces located behind the building.
The basement (lower level) houses the children’s
section, meeting room (used primarily for children’s reading programs), a
circulation desk, history (archives) room, mechanical room, washrooms, and a
staff room. The structure is handicap
accessible with wheelchair ramp facilities.
The upper level contains a reference desk, reference
collection, book stack room, custodial room, and a New Hampshire/new book
room. The “Great Hall”, which contains
the reference desk and materials is the most architecturally impressive room
within the building with high ceilings and ornate molding details. Both the upper and lower levels house a
total of twenty computer terminals which provide high-speed internet access and
library catalog information.
Library personnel consists of four full-time and five
part-time staff. A total of ten
volunteers assist with various library duties throughout the building. The facility is open for a total of
fifty-seven hours per week Monday through Saturday. The library has an agreement with the Towns of Albany and Eaton
in which their residents may use the facilities with the associated costs paid
by each respective town.
In addition to the Conway Public Library, there is a
small private library of approximately 3,700 square feet located on Route 16 in
North Conway Village. The North Conway
Public Library is a privately funded facility that provides library services to
all residents of Carroll County and Fryeburg, Maine. The library contains various reading materials as well as videos,
audio materials and offers community programs such as children’s reading
initiatives. Although the North Conway
Public Library provides library services and infrastructure to the public, it
is not directly associated or funded by the Town of Conway and will not be
included in this needs assessment.
Needs Assessment – Structurally the building appears to be in good condition. A bond was also recently passed to construct
an 8,000 square foot, two-level addition onto the east side of the existing
structure. This addition will house a
meeting room, children’s room, circulation desk, reference stacks and restroom
facilities. The most beneficial component
of the project will be the addition of much needed shelf and storage space for
books and other materials. Construction
of the library addition is scheduled to be completed by early 2004.
Another need identified by the Head Librarian was the
lack of computer hardware support for the library’s computer network. Currently, computer hardware and software
problems are handled in-house by library staff, which generally satisfies the
needs of the system. However, demands
on the existing and future computer infrastructure may require a computer
technician to handle these issues.
Although the Library would not require the assistance of this person on
a full-time basis, it is anticipated that this position could be shared amongst
all municipal administrative departments.
8. Public
Works
The Public Works Department oversees a number of
functions within the community which include: road maintenance; drainage system
maintenance; public grounds maintenance (excluding school properties); municipal
vehicle maintenance (including police and school vehicles); street light
maintenance; solid waste collection and disposal; collection and processing of
recyclable materials; and maintenance of some cemetery properties.
The public works garage is located on Route 302,
across the street and adjacent to the Town Hall, and contains approximately ten
acres. The site includes two garages,
an office and a number of outbuildings for storage of various materials and
goods. According to the Director of
Public Works, the newest garage is a single story, wood and steel structure
that was completed in 1990. The second
garage is a single story cinder block structure with the construction date
unknown. It is estimated that each
garage contains approximately 10,000 square feet. The office is a one and a half story, wood framed structure of
approximately 1,000 square feet and is estimated to have been constructed
around 1900.
Staffing for the Public Works Department consists of
a total of twenty-two full-time staff including: one Director; eleven
road/grounds maintenance staff; seven solid waste and recycling staff; and
three vehicle maintenance and service technicians. Typically, one seasonal grounds maintenance worker is added
during the summer months. Since the
Director of Public Works’ office is located within the Town Hall, the
department shares administrative staff with other municipal departments located
within that building.
The town’s solid waste facility is located on East
Conway Road and consists of an operational landfill, a transfer station
(located on a decommissioned landfill), dump store (store for unwanted but
useable items), solid waste roll-off container area, and disposal areas for
various bulky items (used tires, white goods, etc). The Public Works Director estimates that the landfill has
approximately twenty-five years of capacity.
Conway residents and commercial establishments are currently responsible
for the collection and disposal of solid waste and recyclable materials with no
municipal curbside collection service being offered.
Needs Assessment – The existing facilities at the public works yard are at or are
quickly reaching capacity. With the
town having to maintain an ever-increasing amount of road mileage (North-South
Road for example), facilities will have to be upgraded and expanded to handle
new equipment and staff. According to
the Public Works Director, it is anticipated that garage and office facilities
at the public works yard will have to be upgraded and expanded within the next
few years if additional road maintenance responsibility is added to the
system. An approximate amount of new
building space required has not been determined.
In terms of staffing, the Department is currently in
need of a full-time position which would be split between grounds maintenance
and snowplow operation and is expected to require more staff over the next few
years. As with the yard facilities, any
additional road maintenance responsibility added to the town will require
additional staff. The number of new
staff required to handle the added road maintenance has not been
determined.
9. School
District
Existing Services – The Conway School District provides educational and special education
services for students in kindergarten through the twelfth grade. The Conway School District is one of seven
school districts (Albany, Bartlett, Conway, Chatham, Eaton, Hart’s Location,
and Jackson) administered by School Administrative Unit #9. The District administers three elementary
schools (Conway Elementary, Pine Tree Elementary, and John Fuller Elementary)
and the Kennett Junior/Senior High School which houses grades seven and eight
(Junior High) and nine to twelve (Senior High School). Tables 8-3 provides a listing of these
facilities along with their most recent enrollment levels and approximate
capacity level.
|
Table
8-3. Conway School District
Educational Facilities - 2002 |
|||
|
Town
of Conway |
|||
|
Facility |
Grades |
Enrollment* |
Current
Capacity Level |
|
Kennett Junior/Senior High |
7-12 |
1,337 |
Above
Capacity |
|
Conway Elementary |
K-6 |
300 |
Above
Capacity |
|
John Fuller Elementary |
K-6 |
280 |
Capacity |
|
Pine Tree Elementary |
K-6 |
268 |
Below
Capacity |
|
*Projected enrollment from promoting
existing (2001) students |
|||
|
Source: Conway School District
Annual Report - 2001 |
|||
An analysis of historic enrollment estimates over the
past ten years for each of the District’s schools reveals that, generally, enrollment
has been steadily increasing for Kennett Junior/Senior High School and steadily
decreasing for all of the elementary schools.
Currently, the District has a total of 12
administrative staff, 193 teachers/certified instructors, 102 paraprofessional
staff, and 44 support personnel (cooks, maintenance, custodians and bus
drivers) for a total staff of 351.
Needs Assessment – Due to the potential of Conway’s withdrawal from the Conway Authorized
Regional Enrollment Area (AREA) – a regional tuition cooperative formed in 1987
among the towns of Albany, Bartlett, Conway, Eaton, Freedom, Jackson, Madison
and Tamworth – a formal review of the District’s facilities has not been
completed. A plan for withdrawal, which
was developed by the Conway Withdrawal Study Committee, from the AREA has been
sent to the State Department of Education for review. From a facilities and infrastructure perspective, the approval
for withdrawal from the AREA agreement is a major determinant of future
facilities requirements for the Conway School District. As the withdrawal from the AREA agreement is
yet undetermined, information on the overall facilities needs of the District
is uncertain. Similarly, reliable enrollment
projections for the entire district are not available. However, regardless of the withdrawal
situation, there are a number of upgrades and improvements required at each of
the District’s facilities. The
following presents an overview of current facilities needs, recent upgrades and
potentially needed improvements.
Kennett –
Kennett Junior/Senior High School contains grades seven through twelve as well
as a vocational training component. The
school is located on Route 16 in Conway Village. The facility was constructed in 1923 and has experienced
additions in 1938, 1956, 1963, and 1978.
According to the SAU #9 Superintendent, portions of the school are in
good structural condition. There are,
however, portions of the school that are in need of significant repairs. For example, the physical education facility
is in need of major structural upgrades.
Furthermore, the “quilt-like” program of building additions to the main
structure over the decades has created problems with wheelchair accessibility
in certain sections of the structure, as well as significant parking
issues. Traffic circulation issues are
another problem with entrance and egress from the facility creating circulation
problems on-site, as well as congestion on neighboring streets.
From a facility’s capacity standpoint, the building
is above capacity in terms of total enrollment. The capacity issues may be relieved somewhat due to steady
declines within the District’s elementary schools. It is apparent, however, that a detailed evaluation of the
buildings at Kennett is needed.
Conway Elementary – The Conway Elementary School contains grades kindergarten through
six. The school is located on Main
Street in Conway Village. The facility
was constructed in the 1950s with renovations and an addition completed in
1978. Overall, the building is in good
condition.
According to the Superintendent, the facility is
above its designed enrollment capacity and currently has a portable classroom
to address this issue. In order to address
the capacity issue, the facility needs to have more specialized space added to
accommodate specialty education needs and support staff. Specialized needs typically includes space
for uses not incorporated in the building’s original design such as computer
rooms, office space, nursing space, guidance councilor space, etc.
John Fuller Elementary – The John Fuller Elementary School contains grades
kindergarten through six. The school is
located on Pine Street next to the SAU #9 administrative offices. The building was constructed in the 1950s
and has had renovations and additions completed in 1978 and 1990.
The facility is at or near enrollment capacity and,
like the Conway Elementary School, requires additional specialized space.
Pine Tree Elementary School – The Pine Tree Elementary School contains grades
kindergarten through six. The school is
located on Mill Street in Center Conway, approximately one mile south of the
Conway Town Hall. The facility is the
newest addition to the Conway School District with the building being
constructed in 1990.
As shown in Table 8-3, Pine Tree Elementary is below
enrollment capacity and has no pressing building requirements. However, improvement and upgrading of the
school’s recreation fields is necessary.
These improvements are not likely to happen over the next few years as
the site does not have access to municipal water and therefore cannot
accommodate a necessary lawn sprinkling system.
SAU #9 Administrative Office – The SAU #9 Administrative Office building is
located on Pine Street next to the John Fuller Elementary School. The two story building, originally a
residential structure, was built approximately one hundred years ago and is
home to the SAU #9 Superintendent and administrative support staff.
The building is in generally good structural
condition, although it currently violates state health and safety codes due to
the lack of fire sprinkler and alarm systems, as well as not being wheelchair
accessible. To address these issues,
the District has budgeted approximately $105,000 to renovate and enlarge the
building in 2005.
10.
Electrical Power
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative provides the
distribution of electric power in North Conway, while Public Service of New
Hampshire provides electric power in the remaining portions of the town.
Kearsarge Lighting Precinct
The Kearsarge Lighting Precinct is a small government
body with two purposes: 1) to procure electricity for lighting along streets and
public ways within Conway’s Kearsarge neighborhood; and 2) oversee the
District’s Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
The organization is run by three volunteer commissioners elected for
three-year terms with the help of a paid elected clerk, treasurer, and a
moderator (for its annual meeting).
In terms of its public lighting responsibilities, the
Precinct purchases electrical power on an annual basis from New Hampshire
Electric Cooperative. The cost of the
electricity purchased is then passed along to Precinct households based on a
percentage of the assessed value of their respective property. This amount is added to the precinct portion
of the Conway property tax bill. The
most recent assessment for the Precinct was $0.21 per $1,000 of valuation with
an annual gross budget of approximately $14,000.
Intervale Lighting District
The Intervale Lighting District operates in the same
fashion as the Kearsarge Lighting Precinct in that it procures electricity for
public street lights in the Intervale area of Conway. However, the Intervale District does not have land use planning
or zoning responsibilities. The most
recent assessment for the District was $0.07 per $1,000 of valuation with an
annual gross budget of approximately $2,400.
11. Telephone
Telephone service is available through any of the
large telephone companies (Verizon, etc).
High-speed broadband, dial-up and wireless internet service is also
available (depending on local topography and proximity to switching facilities)
through a host of regional and local providers including Adelphia, First Bridge
Internet, Verizon Wireless, Third Rail Broadband Wireless Solutions, and North
Country Internet Access.
12. Natural
Gas
Natural gas is currently not available in Conway.
13.
Cable Television
Cable television is available throughout Conway. Service is provided by Adelphia. Adelphia has also just recently introduced
broadband services to North Conway and Conway Village.
14. Public Water
and Wastewater Distribution and Treatment Systems
There
are seven (7) utility/service precincts/districts[3]
in the Town of Conway. Two of them -
the Conway Village Fire District (CVFD) and the North Conway Water Precinct
(NCWP) also provide public water and wastewater treatment services. Additionally, the Kearsarge Lighting
Precinct and the Intervale Lighting Precinct are included in the North Conway
Water Precinct and receive both water and sewer services.
The
Town of Conway and the two Precincts/Districts providing water and wastewater
services (Conway Village Fire District and the North Conway Water Precinct) are
separate and distinct entities. While
the Town of Conway municipal government is responsible for administering land
use ordinances (i.e. zoning, subdivision and site plan review) and targets
certain areas for development, the districts have the ability to make zoning
work effectively within its boundaries by managing water and sewer distribution
and expansion. System capacity can also
be a limiting factor in developing certain portions of the town or restricting
development in other areas. Currently,
the Town of Conway, the CVFD and the NCFD do not formally collaborate relative
to development applications or development issues within Conway.
Conway Village
Fire District (CVFD) – In
1999 District officials commissioned the preparation of the Conway Village
Fire District Water and Wastewater Master Plan (Camp Dresser McKee [CDM],
March 2002). The need for a
comprehensive evaluation of the water and wastewater systems was based on
incidences of minor contamination at existing well fields; low fire hydrant
flows throughout the District; lack of wastewater collection north of the Saco
River; and an aging wastewater treatment system which will probably be subject
to more stringent discharge permits in the near future.
The
Water and Wastewater Master Plan provides a comprehensive strategy for
improvements based on the above issues as well as future growth projections and
targeted development areas. Population
projections (about 15% per decade) and associated District needs were based on
the New Hampshire Office of State Planning projections for Conway Village.
Water Consumption – The District provides water service to almost all of the households in the Village (about 3,714 in 1999). This represents about 30% of the households in the town. Current average demand in the CVFD is about 0.48 million gallons per day (mgd) which is significantly higher that most New Hampshire communities including the North Conway Water Precinct. (NCWP per capita water consumption is 71 gallons per customer per day [gpcd] while CVFD is 190). The master plan concluded that the water consumption rates do not necessarily reflect actual consumer usage (which may not include other factors such as system leakage) primarily because connections are not metered and water bills are based on a flat rate with no incentive for water conservation. Typically, per capita consumption rates range between 75-100 gpcd. Table 8-4 illustrates per capita water consumption rates for residents served by the CVFD.
|
Table 8-4. Conway Village FD Per Capita Water
Consumption Rates |
|||
|
Year |
Water Service Area Pop. |
Avg. Day Demand (mgd) |
Per Capita Consumption (gpcd) |
|
1995 |
2,480 |
0.40 |
161 |
|
1996 |
2,500 |
0.40 |
160 |
|
1997 |
2,520 |
0.48 |
190 |
|
1998 |
2,540 |
0.46 |
181 |
|
1999 |
2,561 |
0.49 |
191 |
|
Source: Conway Village Fire District Water and Wastewater Master
Plan, 2002, CDM |
|||
Water
Supply and Treatment – The District
relies on two gravel-packed wells, located adjacent to the Kancamangus
Highway. These wells were developed in
the late 1950s and early 1960s. The capacities
for Wells 1 and 2 are 1.22 and 0.72 million gallons per day (mgd),
respectively. The CVFD is presently unable to meet maximum daily demand if its
largest supply source were to go offline.
However, if water consumption rates within the District were reduced,
the CVFD would be able to meet typical daily demand should the major source go
offline.
There
is about 17 miles of pipe in the District ranging in size from 4 to 12
inches. Approximately 50% of the
District’s mains are 6-inches in diameter or smaller.
Wastewater Service – In 2000, approximately 50% of the District’s 2,580 residents were served by the wastewater collection system. The District is currently planning to provide sewerage to all of Conway Village. The Distirct also receives treated groundwater from the Kearsarge Metallurgical Corporation (KMC), which is a designated Superfund Site with groundwater contamination resulting from on-site disposal of hazardous materials.
The
wastewater treatment facility was constructed in 1972 and expanded in 1990,
increasing the capacity from about 0.2 mgd to 0.36 mgd. The effluent is treated and disinfected
prior to discharge into the Saco River just downstream from the confluence of
the Swift River.
Key
issues identified in the CVFD Water and Wastewater Master Plan about the
wastewater collection and treatment system are as follows:
§
Wastewater collection
is not provided for the area north of the Saco River;
§
The existing treatment
plant has exceeded the design value for biological oxygen demand (BOD) loading
and is within 80% of the design flow rate; and
§
The existing treatment
plant will be unable to meet expected future treatment requirements (i.e.
nutrient discharge limitations, likely to be mandated after 2007).
The
oldest portions of the District’s wastewater collection system were constructed
in 1972, when the wastewater treatment plant was constructed. The collection system includes polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) and asbestos cement pipes ranging in size from 6 to 15 inches in
diameter.
Conveying wastewater flows from the District’s existing service area to the North Conway Water Precinct for treatment is considered a possible comprehensive solution to Conway Village’s water and wastewater system problems. However, agreements must be reached between the two districts in terms of utility expansion and capacity needs, service rates and connection fees, and capital improvement financing. It is not anticipated that this connection will be necessary until around 2010 when new permit conditions will require upgrades to the District’s existing wastewater treatment plant.
North
Conway Water Precinct (NCWP) –
According to the NCWP Water and Wastewater Master Plan[4],
approximately 48% of Conway’s population and about 400 residents of the Town of
Bartlett live within the NCWP service area, which included a total of about
4,470 residents in 1998. The Precinct
primarily lies along the Route 16 corridor and is densely developed with many
commercial and retail establishments.
The NCWP provides water service to almost all Precinct residents. The North Conway Water Precinct
Wastewater Master Plan and Water Master Plan (both completed by CDM
in 1999) provides in-depth evaluations of the Precinct’s existing
infrastructure and future system needs, including the potential connection to
the CVFD water and wastewater systems.
Since the master plan was completed in 1999, several water and
wastewater improvements have been made:
- Completion of a
12-inch water main from Settlers’ Green to Artist Falls Road (Local Road);
- Sewer service to the
Artist Falls Area and the Woodland Hills/Northface Condominiums;
- Completion of a
12-inch looped water main extension along Old Bartlett Road to the Mount
Cranmore Area;
- Sewer upgrades in the
village area including locations adjacent to Seavey Street, Pine Street,
Oak Street, Sweat Street, Mason Street, and Grove Street;
- Designed plans for
the upgrade to a 16-inch water main along Route 16 from Route 302 to
Artist Falls Road, and from Artists Falls Road to the Hospital. (The plans are to be coordinated with
New Hampshire Department of Transportation [NHDOT] highway improvement
projects 5A and 5B); and
- Designed plans for
sewer extension along Route 16 from the Hospital to 16A in coordination
with NHDOT highway projects.
Water
Supply and Treatment - The NCWP
provides water service to all residents within the Precinct. There are two water service areas within the
Precinct. The northern service area is
supplied by the Hurricane Tank and extends to the north of Artist Falls Road. The Pine Hill Tank supplies the southern
service area. Both tanks have a
capacity of two million gallons, which is sufficient to service the Precinct’s
current service territory over the next 20 years. Commercial and residential water demands are expected to increase
by about 20% per decade. Table 8-5
indicates projected water demands for the existing Precinct area as well as
potential future connections outside of the Precinct.
|
Table 8-5.
North Conway WP Projected Future Water Demands |
||
|
Type
of Use |
1998 Demand (mgd) |
2020 Demand (mgd) |
|
Existing NCWP |
||
|
Residential |
0.20 |
0.30 |
|
Commercial/Industrial/ Institutional |
0.32 |
0.48 |
|
Wastewater Treatment Plant Use |
0.20 |
0.20 |
|
Unaccounted for |
0.39 |
0.39 |
|
Average Daily Demand |
1.11 |
1.37 |
|
Maximum Daily Demand |
1.72 |
2.28 |
|
Potential Future Outside
Connections |
||
|
Birch Hill & Forest Edge |
0.10 |
0.15 |
|
West Side Road |
0.09 |
0.16 |
|
Redstone |
0.04 |
0.22 |
|
Lower Bartlett Water Prec. |
0.14 |
0.65 |
|
CVFD (north of Saco River) |
0.15 |
0.25 |
|
CVFD (south of Saco River) |
0.39 |
0.56 |
|
Source: NCWP Water Master Plan, CDM, December 1999 |
||
The
Precinct has five gravel packed water supply wells. However, only three are
anticipated to be in use over the next 20 years. Well 1 is out of service because hydrocarbons have been detected
in the well and Well 2 is threatened by the encroachment of the Saco River,
which is eroding on the adjacent riverbank. The main contamination threat to
the Precinct wells is from underground storage tanks. However, the planned extension of sewers to the Hussey Well Field
wellhead protection area will help protect groundwater quality.
There
were three areas identified in the NCWP Water and Wastewater Master Plan where
fire hydrant flows were determined to be insufficient: Fox Ridge & Route
16; Artist Falls and Thompson Road; Old Bartlett Road & Cranmore Road. The Precinct has been making upgrades in
these areas over the past few years and has made substantial improvements to
fire flows.
Wastewater
Service - The North Conway
wastewater treatment facility was constructed in 1997 and is located on the
Saco River about four miles upstream from the CVFD wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP). This is a tertiary treatment
plant (subsurface) providing advanced treatment in order to preserve the water
quality of the Saco River, which is designated as a Class “A” waterway at the
Maine state line. By discharging
effluent within the subsurface, the Precinct avoids seasonal discharge
restrictions (during summer months and periods of low flow) associated with the
Saco River, which also may apply to the CVFD facility in the future.
The 1.5 mgd wastewater treatment facility was designed with adequate capacity to serve all of North Conway Village. However, only about 30% of the precinct was connected in 1999, when the plant was operating at about 24% of capacity. As shown in Table 8-6, the average daily flows are projected to be 0.77 by 2020 (including approximately 5,000 gallons per day of septage received and treated as of 1998). Therefore the plant has the capacity for projected flows from the Precinct through 2020.
|
Table 8-6. North
Conway Water Precinct Estimated & Projected Wastewater Flows |
|||
|
|
Estimated Avg. Wastewater Flow
1998 (mgd) |
Projected Avg. Wastewater Flow
2010 (mgd) |
Projected Avg. Wastewater Flow
2020 (mgd) |
|
Residential |
0.032 |
0.21 |
0.26 |
|
Commercial/Institutional |
0.167 |
0.36 |
0.43 |
|
Infiltration |
0.028 |
0.06 |
0.07 |
|
Septage |
0.005 |
0.005 |
0.005 |
|
Leachate |
0.005 |
0.005 |
0.005 |
|
TOTAL |
0.24 |
0.64 |
0.77 |
|
Source: NCWP Wastewater Master
Plan, CDM, December 1999 |
|||
The
existing wastewater collection system was constructed over the past 12 years
and appears to be in excellent condition with minimal inflows and
infiltration. The collection system has
the capacity to support planned new sewers within the Precinct over the next 20
years. To provide wastewater collection
services to all residents within the Precinct, sewers would need to be
installed in the following areas:
§
Area north of Intervale
Crossroads
§
Intervale Crossroads
Area
§
Cranmore and Crown
Ridge Road Area
§
Side streets between
Route 302 and Artist Falls Road
§
Redstone and Route 113
§
Portions of the North
Conway Village Area
Other Water Service Districts - There are approximately 39 small community water systems registered with
the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) within the Town
of Conway. Of these systems, eight (8)
have been classified as “likely” to be connected to the NCWP water distribution
system in the future[5]. Another ten community water systems are
considered “possible” future connections to NCWP based on their proximity to
the existing system. These systems
include:
West
Side Road - NHDES has identified
four (4) community water systems on West Side Road that may benefit from a
connection to NCWP if the water system is extended across the Saco River.
Center
Conway - There are three small
public water systems in Center Conway: Saco Forest Association (65 housing
units), Saco Woods Condominiums (240 housing units), and Woodland Grove. While the CVFD is three miles from most
residential areas in Center Conway, it is possible that these system and other
areas of the village could be connected in the future. This area could also be connected to NCWP
along Route 16.
Albany
- The CVFD currently provides
service to approximately 10 homes in Albany just west of the village and it’s
possible to extend service in the future to connect three small public water
systems that have had fairly high iron levels including: Almost There Restaurant, White Mountain
Subaru, and Wildwood Development.
Non-Service
Areas - There is a
limited section of Route 16 between North Conway and Conway Village that is
outside the boundaries of both the CVFD and the NCWP. Currently there are no residential or commercial developments
along this section of the roadway, but it is anticipated that limited
development could occur in the future. NCWP is evaluating this area for
potential expansion in the near future.
Additionally,
the North-South Road and the Route 16/302 bypass may generate new development
in the Redstone area and the NCWP may consider extending water service to this
area through an existing 12-inch water main stubbed at Route 302. The Precinct is also considering possible
interconnections to the Lower Bartlett Water Precinct and the Conway Village
Fire District to provide supplemental flows in the event of an emergency or
fire.
15. Water and Wastewater Trends and Issues
Conway Village Fire District
Water
System Issues – According to the
CVFD’s Water and Wastewater Master Plan (CDM, 2002), the key issues for
the water system that need to be addressed are the following:
§
The water distribution
system is not efficiently linked and has a significant number of long dead-end
mains, reducing system reliability and raising potential water quality
concerns;
§
Storage facilities and
supply sources are concentrated in one area of the district; and,
§
Fire hydrant flow
requirements are not fully met at any of the Insurance Services Office (ISO)
fire flow locations.
There is about 17 miles of pipe ranging in size from 4 to 12 inches, and approximately 50% of the District’s mains are 6-inches in diameter or smaller. Over the next several years the District will need to replace these lines with 8-inch mains at a minimum. Additionally, looping dead-end mains in the District would improve fire hydrant flows and water quality. As shown in Table 8-7, potential looping areas include the following:
Table 8-7.
Potential Water System Looping Project in CVFD
|
|||
|
Street From |
Street
To |
Diameter (inches) |
Length (feet) |
|
Thorne Hill Rd. |
Fairview
Ave. |
6 |
200 |
|
Jack Frost Lane |
Quint
Street |
8 |
300 |
|
Prospect Rd. |
Prospect
Rd. |
6 |
200 |
|
Muster Street |
Washington
St. |
6 |
500 |
|
River Street |
River
Street |
6 |
300 |
|
Source: CVFD Water Master Plan,
CDM, 2002 |
|||
The
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) maintains an
inventory of potential and existing sources of contamination for public water
supplies in for Conway Village that was updated in July 1999. The majority of contamination threats to the
District’s wells are from underground storage tanks.
The
District’s two water wells are also vulnerable to accidental chemical releases
that could possibly occur on Route 16 or the Kancamangus Highway. Inter-connection with the NCWP would address
this issue. NCWP’s Pine Hill Tank is located approximately 4,500 feet from end
of the District’s distribution system on Route 16. This could be used as a short-term supply in the event of high
demand conditions, emergencies, or contamination events.
The
CVFD Water Master Plan evaluated three possible alternatives to rectify current
deficiencies in the water distribution and treatment system:
§
Connect to the North
Conway Water Precinct’s distribution system;
§
Construct a new Conway
Village water storage tank, located north of the Saco River; or
§
Extensive piping
improvements, with no additional storage.
Wastewater
Issues - The Conway Village wastewater treatment plant is about 30 years old
and approaching the end of it’s designed life.
Some equipment is experiencing significant wear and tear such as the
aeration system. Given this and more
stringent permit conditions anticipated to be imposed in the next seven years
by the State of New Hampshire, the CVFD Wastewater Master Plan recommended
minimizing significant capital improvements to the existing facility. However, upgrading the WWTP aeration system
is an important short-term improvement.
This would reduce the District’s energy costs and ensure that the plant
continues to meet current discharge permit conditions.
Additional
growth is projected in the area north of the Saco River beyond the current
service area. Continued reliance on
subsurface wastewater disposal systems in the area may cause the deterioration
of local groundwater quality.
The
CVFD Wastewater Master Plan evaluated three alternatives that could provide a
comprehensive solution:
§
Convey flows north of
the Saco River to the North Conway Water Precinct now and include provisions to
ultimately convey all Conway Village flows to North Conway (when more stringent
discharge limits are imposed);
§
Upgrade the sewage
treatment plant (STP) in order to meet all future permit requirements, and
convey flows from the north of the Saco River to the North Conway Water
Precinct for treatment; or
§ Expand and upgrade the District’s WWTP in order to accept flows from north of the Saco River and to meet all future permit requirements.
North Conway
Water Precinct
The
North Conway water and wastewater systems are both in good condition and have
sufficient capacity to accommodate anticipated growth for the next several
years. However, there are several areas beyond the current precinct boundaries
that could be connected and provide significant community-wide benefits in
terms of natural resource protection, public health and economic development.
There
are limited growth opportunities in the village area, which is bound by the
railroad and Saco River to the west, Mount Cranmore to the east, and
conservation lands to the north. Much
of the land west of the Saco River remains undeveloped with a large portion
situated within the floodplain, Echo Lake State Park, or the White Mountain
National Forest. Residents in this area
rely on septic systems and there are no plans within the near future to provide
wastewater service to this area.
There
are possible extension opportunities south along the “strip” in terms of
infill, redevelopment, and open parcels on the east side of Route 16 behind
existing development. North of the
village area, along Route 16, there is a possible extension area due to the
need to increase protection of the Precinct’s water supply watershed.
Potential
wastewater services to areas outside the Precinct in the future include:
Redstone (to serve new development along Route 302 and 113); Lower Bartlett up
to the East Branch River (to protect the Hussey Well Field and LBWP well
field); existing CVFD service area; and the CVFD unsewered area north of the
Saco River. The cumulative flows of
these areas, in addition to the Precinct’s own projected growth, would exceed
all design parameters of the WWTP.
However, the plant’s design and capacity ratings may be higher than
currently rated and could possibly be re-rated to a higher capacity with
minimal capital expenditures.
The
Precinct will need to develop new water supply sources if it is going to supply
demands outside the Precinct boundaries.
Two new wells and pumping station upgrades could potentially increase
the capacity from its current estimated level of 7,000 to 12,000 gallons per
minute (gpm). The Precinct has recently
identified a well site (#6) in the Intervale area that could provide a
significant amount of water to accommodate future needs.
16.
Implications for the Future
The snapshots of existing municipal services and
infrastructure discussed in this chapter provide insight into the current operations
and conditions of various types of municipal services. The needs assessment attempts to provide an
understanding, on a comprehensive level, where each service or infrastructure
provider is headed relative to perceived future needs. The decisions made relative to the town’s
municipal and service infrastructure will have far reaching fiscal,
environmental and social implications with regard to how Conway will function
as a community in the future. As mentioned
in earlier chapters, Conway’s position as a tourist and retail destination
places additional demands on existing and future services and
infrastructure. Planning for these
fluctuations to ensure that adequate municipal services and infrastructure are
maintained will be one component of an overall municipal system that will be
required to preserve Conway’s existing high quality of life.
The continued growth of enrollment within the entire
Conway School District has placed considerable pressure on the town’s
educational infrastructure. A comprehensive
facilities plan should be developed by the District to anticipate the town’s
educational infrastructure needs over the next ten years.
Although Conway enjoys the benefits of having
experienced and dedicated professionals using some of the best equipment in the
County, there may be opportunities to better utilize fire protection
resources. Based on interviews with
each of the Fire Chiefs, it appears that the town as a whole could improve its
fire protection services if the five separate fire districts/precincts were
coordinated, at the very least, on an administrative and fiscal basis. At a bare minimum, purchasing agreements,
drafted in the form of memoranda of understanding, should be initiated to
purchase similar products, services, and equipment used by each of the
Precincts/Districts. Although
coordination has been attempted in the past, the potential administrative and
fiscal advantages attained by an integrated fire protection system could be
significant and therefore should be revisited.
In order to reduce overlapping zoning requirements
and bureaucratic formalities, the Town of Conway’s Zoning Ordinance should be
amended to include elements of the Kearsarge Lighting District’s Zoning
Ordinance.
In
terms of water and wastewater issues, the CVFD Interconnection Feasibility
Study will address NCWP residents and property owners’ concerns that water and
wastewater expansion to areas outside the Precinct may use existing capacity
and limit future connection opportunities within the Precinct. If the Study determines that expansion can
be done by using surplus capacity that does not limit service potential in
existing areas, then both NCWP and CVFD should work with Precinct residents and
property owners to inform them of the advantages of this interconnection to the
larger community. Additionally, NCWP should continue to evaluate potential
future funding eligibility issues if additional revenues are collected from new
service areas outside the Precinct.
The Town of Conway Selectmen should also work with both the CVFD
and the NCWP by informing residents and property owners in both service areas
about the advantages of inter-connected water and wastewater systems in terms
of resource protection and future economic opportunities; developing funding
solutions that recognize the difference in tax bases and financing capabilities
between the two service areas; and accessing state and federal funding sources
that are available only through the town (e.g. community development block
grants).
