Main Street bridge is still open, the roadway is still in use, so why is a debt exclusion needed at this point in time. First, ARPA funds were going to pay for it, then the state was going to pay for it. Yes, it is a town bridge and yes it needs to be replaced, but since it is still in use, it could be placed on TIP list and in about 5-6 years, it would be replaced without a debt exclusion on the backs of town residents, I mean the people on Royalston Road have waited 10 plus years on TIP list. Templeton has 2 roadways that are closed, Stone Bridge and part of N. Main Street/Lord Road. Sometimes called gilligans island and since these roadways are closed and everyone uses the roads, from residents to police, fire, ambulance, school buses, it would seem to this resident that the more pressing items would be the roads that are closed rather than one that is still useable. Important to note, the called for debt exclusion question is a two-part affair. First there is a contingent town meeting question where town meeting is asked to approve borrowing of a certain amount of dollars (I would never vote to approve anything without a known/stated dollar figure and then the question has to go to the election ballot, and both have to pass for it to move forward. Right now, the town has too much debt and remember, the selectmen voted to put less money into town stabilization funds, which can affect the town bond rating which has effect on borrowing costs. Vote no on debt exclusion!
The deadline for obtaining voter approval of override or exclusion questions for contingent appropriations made at an annual town meeting is September 15. More than one election may be held, but the contingent appropriation is null and void if the related question is not approved by September 15.
• The deadline for obtaining voter approval of override or exclusion questions for contingent appropriations made at any other town meeting is 90 days after the close of the town meeting at which the contingent appropriation vote was taken. More than one election may be held, but the contingent appropriation is null and void if the related question is not approved by the end of the 90 day period.
This projects failure to proceed is all on Adam...............The Town kept Carter on as a consultant in part due to this item.
ReplyDeleteIn the Fall of 2019 Capital planning met in "kelli's old office". Carter presented the plan to bring a request for $200,000 too get to 75% design. The plan was to have it presentable by 8/2020 for a State funded Package. The $200,000 was approved by Capital and later by Town Meeting.
This is when Adam took over as Town Administrator. It sat stagnant until spending ARPA money came into view then, because Town Hall had other plans for ARPA they decided to ask the Governor for earmarks, grants, gifts...........They got every Committee involved in writing letters even after it was denied and Governor was gone they still kept writing.
Now 5 years after they had all the design money required to get funding, they've decided you, the taxpayer are on the hook for the inept management they have shown and the increased costs incurred..............
2019 this project was presented as a $1.8 million to $2.4 million dollar project.
2024 the price..........anyone guess, but I heard Adam mention $3.7 million so I'm going to guess $5 million.
I think Jeff has the right idea above..............closed roads need fixing before this Bridge. Maybe take the 80,000 lbs of concrete off bridge (Jersey barriers) and it would be even safer.........