Adams Voters To Make Decision On Charles Street Bridge
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Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said he is uncomfortable having town officials making the decision on the expensive Charles Street Bridge replacement. The damaged bridge can be seen in thecenter of the image at left. |
Repairing the bridge or installing a new box culvert will cost taxpayers between $150,000 and $250,000.
The bridge services an unaccepted road and was destroyed by Hurricane Irene last year. The town has spent nearly a year going back and forth with the Federal Emergency Management Agency debating federal reimbursements for the repairs.
FEMA estimated the cost to return it to the condition it was before the storm at $35,000. But Hill Engineers said in order to meet state codes, it will cost more than $200,000 — and that was at the time when environmental regulations were suspended because of the storm.
FEMA has offered a 75 percent reimbursement for about $35,000 no matter what the town decides to do. Repairing the bridge or installing a new box culvert will cost taxpayers between $150,000 and $250,000 for the unaccepted road.
"I think that because of amount of the expenditure, we should let town meeting decide," Town Administrator Jonathan Butler told the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday night. "I feel uncomfortable making that decision."
While Butler said he is supportive of doing the project, the circumstances around using that much taxpayer money for a private road should go to a vote and the board agreed.
The bridge is one of only two egresses from the horseshoe-shaped roads on the north side of Lime Street. The other egress was damaged during the storm but was quickly repaired. For the last year, the residents there have been reduced to only one access point.
The board will determine whether to call a special town meeting or wait until the annual town meeting.
"I'd like to see a public safety report. I'd also like to see what the neighbors think," Selectman Scott Nichols said.
Butler said there is not an immediate need from a public safety standpoint but residents there would certainly like to have both ends of the road opened.
The board voted to ask for the reports as well as a discussion with department heads and residents at a workshop meeting next month.
In other news, the buildings behind the former Albert's Hardware have been demolished and the parking lot planned there is expected to be completed by winter. The contract is out to bid now and should be awarded at the end of September.
• Led by Selectman John Duval, the town will start the process of creating an updated strategic plan. The plan has not been updated in years and would likely require hiring a consultant. Butler said the town will begin to look at grants to support the process that will require a lot of work from volunteers and town officials.
• Butler is going on vacation for two weeks and the board appointed Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington as acting town administrator while he is away. The appointment runs from Aug. 31 until Sept. 17.
Tags: bridge, Irene, roadwork,
