CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town may apply for Complete Streets funding again after not receiving funds two cycles in a row.

 

Town Administrator Edmund St. John told last week that he received feedback from the state about the town's failed application and was encouraged to apply again.

 

"They gave us some feedback and said we should really look over our prioritization plan," he said. "We can try it again or cluster our projects together."

 

St. John gave the update to Selectwoman Carol Francesconi, the only board member who could attend last week's meeting. Since there was no quorum, no decisions were made but the report was informally discussed and Francesconi met with residents from Hutchinson Acres. 

 

In January, town officials were told that they would not receive funds to install a sidewalk on Wells Road and a footbridge.

 

Previously, officials had looked to make improvements to Depot and RailRoad streets but the project did not score high enough in all categories required for the grant.

 

The Complete Streets program allows communities to apply for funds that make byways safe and accessible for multiple modes of travel. Grants range from $50,000 to $400,000.

 

St. John said the state liked the town's ideas but wanted them clarified in the narrative.

 

"They wanted to see more intermodal transportation. We had a conversation and I said if we did this the bus would come through, there would be walkers, bikers and everything would connect to the rail trail," he said. "They said that sounds great but it wasn't on the original narrative so it leaves the door open to reapply."

 

Town Clerk Christine Emerson said she thought the town’s application was inclusive and there was a sense among the town officials that previous applications may have been crossed together.

 

Francesconi said she was hesitant to apply again because the town has had such bad luck with the program in the past.

 

"Every year they tell us we should do something different and we do," she said. "We still don’t get it."

 

The town has until May 1 to apply again.

 

In other business, St. Johns said the draft fiscal 2020 budget is complete and will be reviewed at an upcoming meeting. 

 

"We finalized the first draft so no more changes right now," he said. "I think we did a better job of budgeting what our actual expenses are so we don’t have to draw from reserves."

 

In Highway Superintendent Blair Crane's report, he said the department is preparing to start some serious winter pothole repair now that the asphalt plants are starting to open.

 

"Hot mix asphalt plants are starting to open. The one in West Sand Lake is the only one currently open and the local ones will open in another three weeks," he said. "We have a couple of weeks here and I prefer not to wait. It will be a slow process but at least we will be able to start chewing away at it."

 

St. John added that he and Crane had a conversation about undergoing some serious paving projects this summer.

 

"We had a good discussion and we want to identify areas in which we have to have more conversations about real substantive projects," he said.

 

Crane did add that he has kept a lot of the dirt roads such as Richmond Hill and Jenks Rd. closed because of mud and he has been placing gravel to help firm up some of these roads.

 

"Everything that wasn’t covered in pavement is turning to mud," he said. "The frost is coming out of the ground but not fast enough."