Williamstown Sets Vote for Easements to Allow Bridge Replacement
 The Hopper Road bridge is slated to be replaced by the state of Massachusetts. |
As explained by Town Manager Peter Fohlin at last week's regular board meeting, the town needs to obtain the easement on a private property near the bridge to facilitate the work planned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
The town also needs to authorize temporary easements on town-owned land at the site, Fohlin explained on Monday evening at a special meeting attended by three members of the board.
The easements need to be in place before work on the bridge can be put out to bid, which is why a special town meeting is needed to obtain the easement rather than waiting until May's annual town meeting.
So the easements will be put before the town's voters on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Selectman's Meeting Room at Town Hall.
Voters also will be asked to authorize spending $1,500 from the town's unreserved fund balance to "defray any associated right of way expenses connected with the project."
Those expenses include an appraisal of the 725 square feet of private land in question, compensation to the landowner for the use of the property and any legal fees or filing costs associated with the easements, Fohlin said Monday in a meeting telecast on the town's public access television station, WilliNet.
Tags: bridge project, special town meeting,
