Cheshire Expects Sand Mill Road Bridge Closure, Mulls Water Superintendent
 Selectman Robert Ciskowski, right, is suggesting the town hold an informational meeting on the proposed natural gas pipeline, with or without Kinder Morgan's participation. |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Selectmen anticipate having to close a bridge on Sand Mill Road.
"There is a deficient bridge on Sand Mill Road that appears to be on the verge of being closed for state orders," Superintendent Peter LeFebvre told the board on Tuesday. "We will know more in a week or so."
LeFebvre said the state has done its inspection of the bridge and the town is awaiting the results. LeFebvre believes the bridge should be open for at least another week.
Selectman Paul Astorino said the bridge may be closed for a long time depending on if the state decides to fund any of the project.
"If we have to pay for it, it is going to be a while because it is over a million bucks," Astorino said.
LeFebvre said he will continue to notify all people affected by the closing. He said the bridge will still be walkable through the duration of the closing.
Water Commissioner Francis Waterman also met with the board and requested the town hire a full-time superintendent for the Water Department to help handle regulations from the Department of Environmental Protection.
"The demands are getting to be so much, and I worry about the system seven days a week," Waterman said. "I get calls a 3 in the morning and I have to get up and get out of bed … it's a short ride but it's always on my mind."
Chairwoman Carol Francesconi asked if there would be enough work for a full-time employee.
LeFebvre said he thinks there would be plenty to do.
"There will be more work than you realize even though it's a small system I think it would keep someone busy," he said.
Waterman said along with bringing the department more into alignment with DEP compliance, the superintendent could also help the Highway Department when needed.
Waterman said the town already pays part-time workers in the department and will have to pay for a meter reader. He said a superintendent may only be a slight increase and will cover many of the needs they have to pay out for.
"We could take that money and get a full-time employee to help around town, and I just think it would be prudent to do it," he said. "We are coming into a position where we are changing our meter system, we haven't really changed our rates, and we paid some debt off."
Waterman said he has a job description with nearly 60 duties in it and believed hiring someone full time will not increase the water rate.
Astorino suggested writing the position into the preliminary budget and going from there.
Selectman Robert Ciskowski said he has yet to hear from Kinder Morgan representatives about an informational meeting in Cheshire.
"The ball is in their court, and I have yet to hear from their director of public relations," he said.
Ciskowski suggested if Kinder Morgan does not get back to them soon, they hold the meeting anyways. The town plans to have a question on the ballot to gauge public opinion on the pipeline. He said pipeline oppositional groups would give their side and he would do his best to represent Kinder Morgan's point of view.
"I think we could put together a fair meeting, as fair as we could without them," he said. "With the referendum vote, we have to get the information out."
LeFebvre said the town has spent more than $200,000 in salt and sand for winter clean up for the first time. He said the town has enough sand and salt for two more storms.
Tags: bridge, gas pipeline, water district,
