Clarksburg Eyes Fines for Road Debris
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"There have been many complaints about people who leave their leaves in the roads," said Selectmen Chairman Debra LeFave. "It's not the responsibility of the town to pick up leaves and when they're in the road, and they're wet, they're slippery, and that's a safety hazard."
Town Administrator Michael Canales said it wasn't just leaves, but sand and snow being shoveled, raked and pushed into the road, as well as regular litter.
The town has no bylaw regulating debris in the road but someone who puts sand in the road and causes an accident could be liable, he said.
"We need to put something in there that the police, our highway, any official of the town could write a noncriminal ticket," said Canales.
He had drafted wording based on a North Adams' bylaw that would allow fines of $50 or $100 for the board to review.
The Selectmen will hold a public hearing on the bylaw at their next meeting at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29; it will be preceded by a Planning Board public hearing at 6:30 for a special permit to allow proposed senior housing to be built in an industrial zone.
If placed on the warrant by their respective boards, the articles will go before town meeting for approval.
The Council on Aging has facilitated three meetings for seniors and other interested in the Clarksburg Senior Village project planned on town land behind the Senior Center. Nearly 60 people have attended the meetings, a very good turnout, said Canales.
The first two were to create "wish lists" of what the senior would expect or need at the housing project; the third, held Wednesday morning, included representatives from various service agencies.
"It seemed like every time was different and you learned something new so that was good, said Selectwoman Lily Kuzia, also chairman of the COA.
Canales said Elder Services of Berkshire County, which will apply for the funding and operate the development, has requested statistics on the town's elder population to prepare the application for U.S. Housing and Urban Development 202 funding.
The application form is expected to be submitted next month; the town should know by late fall if it's been accepted. Canales said the time line to completion would be four years if the funding is approved in this grant round.
Canales said the budget should also be ready to placed on the warrant on April 29. The budget will be presented by the Selectmen and Finance Committee after the two public hearings.
iBerkshires will have an article on the town budget later Thursday.
