Adams Selectmen Support For Bridge Repair Wanes
 Selectmen Michael Ouellette, left, and John Duval, right, both agreed that the cost was too much to repair the bridge. |
The board met on Wednesday to discuss the future of the bridge that was damaged during Hurricane Irene. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it would not reimburse the town to replace the entire bridge and the burden on taxpayers of near a quarter-million dollars seems to be too much for the Selectmen to support.
"I cannot support spending that kind of money in putting in a second access," Selectman Michael Ouellette said.
Repairing the bridge or installing a box culvert would be expected to cost the town between $150,000 and $250,000. Town officials have gone back and forth with FEMA for nearly a year and because Charles Street is an unaccepted road and the bridge was damaged prior to the storm, the federal government refuses to consider the total cost.
Hill Engineers estimated a cost of $185,000 but that was when the state had removed permitting processes for emergency repairs. With those now back in place, the cost dramatically increases.
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 eight households there have been reduced to only one access point.
Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said he received reports from the Police Department, Emergency Management, the Fire Department and the Department of Public Works. All of them said they have no issue with there only being one egress.
However, residents William Blakeney and Rosemarie Malloy, of Davis Street and Charles Street respectively, said they have safety concerns and wanted the bridge repairs.
The additional minutes it will take an ambulance to respond to Charles Street could make the difference between life and death, said Malloy, and Blakeney said when cars are parked on the side it will be difficult for trucks to get in and out of the road.
Despite the residents' concerns, Ouellette said he has to stand by the department heads who are the town's "experts." Selectman John Duval agreed.
"It's a huge cost for a 15-foot bridge," Duval said. "I couldn't support moving this forward to town meeting."
The opinion is a contrast to a recent meeting, when Town Administrator Jonathan Butler suggested sending the question to town meeting. Then the board agreed with having voters decide but that was before they had reports from emergency personnel.
However, Wednesday's opinion is not the final decision. The board hopes to receive more information about its options and cost to decommission the bridge and are asking emergency personnel to put their reports in writing — which was done only by Police Chief Donald Poirot by Wednesday.
Duval also asked for the town attorney to research who owns the bridge, which none of the Selectmen knew.
If the board does not send the question to town meeting, then the residents will be able to petition to ask voters themselves.
Tags: bridge, Irene,
