Upper Village Road at the mud slide will have slow traffic today as Washington Electric will be working onsite all day placing poles so please proceed with caution in the area.
Chelsea will offer supplementary waste disposal options on Saturday 7/15 from 9am to 1pm (or until full) at the Chelsea Heath Field parking lot.
These dumpsters are intended for disposal of waste or debris from the recent storm ONLY- no household trash. The transfer station will hold normal operating hours for non-storm-related waste.m
We will NOT accept tires, chemicals, or freon-containing appliances (I.e. refrigerators, air conditioners).
With questions, contact jessekselectboard@gmail.com.
Per the National Weather Service, our region is under flood watch starting tomorrow (7/13) from 14:00 through Friday (7/14) at 02:00. The NWS predicts an additional 1-1.5” of rainfall with thunderstorms accompanied by 40-60mph winds through 7/14. A second front is anticipated Saturday (7/15) through Sunday (7/16), with up to an additional 1” of rainfall, potentially resulting in power loss, tree damage, and additional road washouts.
Please prepare accordingly– ensure you have plenty of water, food, medications, and other necessities and identify locations to take shelter if needed. If you have a private driveway culvert, consider clearing it (if safe to do so) to minimize additional damage.
If your basement has been flooded, contact the Chelsea Fire Station at 685-3112. The fire department continues to help pump basements as able, though manpower is limited. For information about public relief services, such as shelter and food, or to report property damage, contact Vermont 211 (at 2-1-1).
Our road crew continues to repair road and bridge damage from the prior storm and is taking proactive measures to prepare for the anticipated storms. At this time, all town roads are passable except for Moxley Bridge, but please continue to exert caution while driving on town roads.
Thank you to our mighty town of Chelsea. As we recover from the recent severe weather, please continue to check on your neighbors, take care of our most vulnerable, and assume the best in everyone. We are aware that some residents are without electricity or phone access. We also know that some residents cannot currently access resources due to road closures. We are in the process of reaching out to residents to ensure safety and prioritize medical needs.
In the event that you are unable to access basic needs (i.e. food, water, or medications) please call 802-369-9229 or email emd@chelseavt.us. If your call is not answered, please provide us with your full name, address, needs/questions, and contact information.
We are coordinating with our local road crew, the Chelsea Fire Department, First Branch Ambulance, utility companies, contractors, and the state of Vermont to address safety concerns, first and foremost. PLEASE FIND INFORMATION & RESOURCES BELOW:
For individuals who have evacuated, please consider the following options for shelter:
New England 511 – We suggest you access this website for road closure information. The state is doing the best it can to keep it updated.
If you have knowledge of a Chelsea road that requires repair, please contact 802-369-9229. We are doing our best to keep a current list of road conditions, including washouts and closures.
Current river levels and forecast: https://water.weather.gov/ahps/region.php?state=vt
Per the Chelsea Selectboard, there is currently a BOIL WATER NOTICE in the town of Chelsea until further notice. See full notice here.
The Chelsea wastewater system is operating at maximum capacity – PLEASE DO NOT DISCHARGE PUMPS LINES INTO THE TOWN SEWER SYSTEM.
Basement pumps, sump pumps, and the like need to be discharged outdoors.
If you need your basement pumped, contact the Chelsea Fire Station non-emergency number at 802-685-3112.
Chelsea Village experienced extensive flooding overnight. Residents in the village have been advised to evacuate and take shelter at the United Church of Chelsea. We will continue to update this page as we learn more.
Please continue to monitor weather reports and be mindful of water levels in rivers and streams. Stay off the roads if you do not need to travel and do not drive or walk through flood water as strong currents or unseen washouts may sweep you or your car away.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911. If you have a non-emergent question, contact Tracy Simon (Chelsea’s Emergency Management Director) at 802-839-0522.
If you have information about local road and bridge conditions or closures, please contact Jesse Kay at jessekselectboard@gmail.com.
For the latest road closure updates, please visit https://newengland511.org.
If you need to evacuate or are unable to return to your home, see below for a listing of emergency shelters for Vermonters. Our local emergency shelter is at the United Church of Chelsea
For people impacted by flooding in Vermont, below is a list of emergency shelters confirmed by Vermont Public.
The National Weather Service anticipates widespread heavy rain starting tonight (7/9) and continuing through tomorrow afternoon with accumulation up to 4.8″ in Chelsea. The impacts of such heavy rainfall include saturated soils, clogged and washed-out culverts, washed-out dirt roads/shoulders, elevated river levels, and flash flooding.
Individuals living in the downtown area and near the Jail Brook or First Branch River are more likely to experience flooding. We advise you to monitor the weather, plan accordingly, and prioritize your safety.
In the event of an emergency, please call 911, other questions contact Tracy Simon, Chelsea’s Emergency Management Director, at 802-839-0522. For non-emergent questions, please contact the Administrative Assistant at administrativeassistant@chelseavt.us or the Chelsea Selectboard Emergency Liaison at jessekselectboard@gmail.com.
Notice:
On 7/4/2023 the town performed our monthly 8 hour composite samples as required by our discharge permit. We typically composite the samples and submit them to the lab on the same day, but because of the holiday the samples were not submitted until Wednesday 7/5/2023.
The required monthly E-coli sample is usually not taken until just before going to the lab to ensure the shortest possible hold time.
The latest test resulted in a high ecoli count. The permitted amount is 77 colonies / 100 milligrams per liter, our result was 800 colonies / 100 milligrams per liter. Wednesdays are the normal wasting days at the facility (wasting is the process of collecting solids in the bottom of the primary clarifier to be pumped to a sludge holding tank. The sludge is then hauled to final disposal by a permitted hauler at a later time. Typically about 2000 gallons of sludge is removed.) This process of wasting creates a drop and corresponding spike in flow when discharge returns. The ecoli sample was taken during this spike in flow. The sample was taken at 10:45 am and the flow returned to normal conditions about 11:45 am. The average flow during this period was about 23 gallons per minute, so an estimated 1380 gallons left the facility during this period.
The elevated ecoli numbers were reported to the state and were advised to provide notice to residents. The State requires a 48 hour notice to those pursuing recreation activities in the river. This 48 hour period has passed and there is no standing advisory to the public to avoid the river at this time.
If you have any questions please contact our wastewater operator, Mike Whipple (WSChiefoperator@chelseavt.us) or the Health Officer, Geoff Clayton (gwc05038@gmail.com).
| A 48-hour Closure of Vermont Route 113 Has Been Postponed to July 29-30 |
| West Fairlee and Thetford- A 48-hour planned closure of Vermont Route 113 (VT 113) previously scheduled for July 22-23 has been postponed to July 29-30. During the planned closure, VT Route 113, near the West Fairlee-Thetford town line, will be closed to all traffic. During the closure, a state-signed detour route will be in place for motorists. The detour will travel south from VT Route 113 and U.S. Route 5 to VT Route 14 in Hartford, then head west towards VT Route 110 to go north and return to VT Route 113. |
Special Selectboard Meeting Minutes (Draft)
July 1, 2023 – Chelsea Town Hall
Selectboard present: Kevin Marshia, Chair, Leyna Hoyt and William Lyon
Leyna motioned to approve the permit for First Branch Babe Ruth, Bill seconded.
All approved the permit request.
Leyna motioned to adjourn the meeting; Bill seconded.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:07 PM
Chelsea Select Board Special Meeting Agenda
Saturday, July 1, 2023, 8:00 a.m.
Chelsea Town Hall
I. Call Meeting to order
II. Conflict of interest disclosure
III. Approve Two Permits for us of the Roberts – Gould Athletic Field
A: First Branch Babe Ruth Baseball
B: Chelsea Flea Market Association, Flea Market Parking
IV. Adjourn