|Debra Smith|
At their December 2nd special meeting, the select board reconsidered a motion from their previous meeting to send only the Stevens Brook project to the capital improvement committee for funding this year. They added two additional projects: heat pumps for the library and improvements to the fairgrounds entrance. Several other parks and recreation requests, dating from 2018, will not be considered.
The Stevens Brook project includes replacement of the culvert under Gloucester Hill Road and the dam on the pond side, along with work on the road deck. The $750,000 needed last year was dependent on a town meeting vote in time for the contractor to order the culvert by a May deadline. (The amount budgeted and approved at the 2018 town meeting fell short of the actual cost.) This year, the same deadline holds: May 15, and if there is no town meeting this spring, a special election may be needed.
But it’s more complicated. The town manager had proposed a placeholder of $850,000 for the Stevens Brook project, which was increased on a board vote to a $950,000 request for the full culvert and dam replacement. It is still unknown whether the contractor can honor last year’s bid. Board members would also like to offer the opportunity for voters to decide between two options: 1) replace both the culvert and dam, which would retain the pond for fire suppression and fishing; or 2) just replace the culvert and let the pond revert back to a brook. The town doesn’t own the land where the pond is situated, so some have concerns about spending taxpayers’ dollars on maintaining it. But there is a warm place in the hearts of many town residents for the fishing pond, which is stocked for those under age 16 and others entitled to complimentary licenses. The town manager will put together a mock-up and figures for both the culvert and dam. The board is under time pressure to move the proposed figure forward to the CIP, which will decide on what goes to the voters.
Heat pumps for the library was a priority request from buildings and grounds, which had first been introduced in 2018. $25,000 was approved 4 to 1 (Colby opposed) to go to the CIP committee. $60,000 for widening and improving the entrance to the fairgrounds was also approved (5 to 0). This would involve widening the entrance to allow two vehicles passing in and out, and improved parking.
Several other requests from parks and recreation for improvements of recreation facilities dating from 2018 were not considered. It was noted that it’s important to start putting funds into reserve for future development, planning in consultation with the new parks and recreation director.
