Townsend Conservation Commission Approves River Scaffolding for Historic 1790 Mill Building

TOWNSEND — June 24, 2026 — Townsend Conservation Commission unanimously approved temporary scaffolding over the Squannacook River to restore the 1790 Spalding Coombs Bridge at 1 South Street. The board issued a negative two and negative three determination on application TWB-2026-009 filed by the Townsend Historic Society, voting 6-0 with a special condition requiring the debris-catching tarp beneath the scaffolding to be cleaned of lead paint chips and wood waste at the end of each working day. Engineer Frank Bartland of Dillis and Roy said eight to 12 jack-post contact points will rest on existing granite blocks in the riverbed and the scaffolding will remain in place for roughly one month during clapboard replacement and lead abatement on the building's cantilevered gable. In separate business, the commission read into record a stop-work order for a three-lot subdivision at Zero Seaver Road after discovering that abutters had not been notified of the original hearing; a new public hearing is set for July 8, 2026. Commissioner Abigail Farley was unanimously recommended for reappointment to a term ending June 30, 2029.