CHESTER – Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito visited Chester on Thursday, accompanied by Michael Knapik, director of the Baker-Polito administration’s Western Massachusetts office in Springfield. Also visiting were Francisca Heming, district highway director for MassDOT, and Jacqueline Furtado, project manager for MassWorks Infrastructure Program. The occasion for the visit was to celebrate a $1 million grant for a 5 ½ mile stretch of East River Road awarded by the MassWorks infrastructure grant program in partnership with MassDOT.
Rosanne McClaflin of the Chester Highway Department and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito.
Before the Lt. Governor’s arrival, Chester highway department assistant Rosanne McClaflin said she wrote the grant with the assistance of many who came before her seeking funds to repair the road. “If you didn’t put it together, this wouldn’t be happening,” responded Chester selectman Rene Senecal to McClaflin.
Upon her arrival, Polito greeted the various town officials who were present, many of whom she has met in previous visits to the hilltowns. She said having a home base in Worcester allows her to give a voice to Western Massachusetts. “This is a great project that will really make a difference for a road that’s deteriorating,” she said.
McClaflin then gave a brief presentation on the East River Road project. She showed photos of severe deterioration around the edges of the roads, and severe drop offs. She said the edges of the road were filled with sand. Temporary concrete barriers also lined a portion of the road which borders the Middle Branch of the Westfield River that was washed out in flooding during Tropical Storm Irene.
Other areas of the road were laden with potholes, cracking, deteriorated and really dangerous, McClaflin said. She said the plan is to do a full depth reclamation of the road, which is the longest lasting repair.
Polito, who said her family’s business has been in road work and utility work for three generations, asked whether there were any under surface utilities along the road. John Murray, Chester Highway Supervisor said they would have to replace some culverts along the way.
The original estimate for the job, following a study for scenic byways done a few years ago was $6.5 million, including overlooks and pulloffs.
McClaflin said they had eliminated those features, and are going to resurface and reclaim within the footprint. She said the new estimate is $968,000, and if they go over the $1 million grant, will be able to supplement the work with Chapter 90 funds. She added that she is a little worried about the guard rails. McClaflin estimated the job would take 2 ½ weeks. Senecal said with drainage, six to eight weeks. The town plans to start the work in early spring.
Front, L-R: Chester Selectman Barbara Huntoon, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Selectman Rene Senecal, and Town Administrator Patricia Carlino. Rear: Michael Knapik, Olwen Dowling and Hwy Supt. John Murray.
Polito asked whether engineering would be required. McClaflin said they didn’t need to do much for the road reclamation, but would be doing some stormwater work that will require some engineering.
Senecal said although the add ons like overlooks from the previous study were taken away, the basic engineering is the same. He said they have a strong engineering plan for the road, which includes pulverizing the road to design depth, removing excess material, and adding stabilizing agents, mixing and composting. The final surface of the road will be coarse.
Senecal said that Palmer Paving already has the bid to do paving in Chester, and is MassDOT approved. Furtado of MassWorks said as long as the bid was properly procured and legal, that would be fine.
“I’m very excited that this road is getting done through MassWorks,” said Heming of MassDOT.
Taking advantage of the visit, Polito then asked for an update on the Hilltown Collaborative, which was formed through a Community Compact agreement with the six Gateway hilltowns and the Baker-Polito administration in May 2016.
Andy Myers, chair of the Hilltown Collaborative, said that they are on their second year, and are working on two different opportunities. He told Polito about the economic development study done by Elan Marketing through a Community Compact grant, which led to the hiring of Jeanne LeClair as the economic development director, also a one-year grant funded position. Myers said LeClair has set up a website, formed new initiatives such as the Enterprise Club at Gateway Regional High School, and also identified properties for development.
“That’s a great story,” Polito said.
LeClair then introduced herself, and said she was attracted to the position because of the way the program and the collaborative are set up. She’s met with all six towns. and has 22 students signed up for the Enterprise Club, 21 of which are girls, and two who already have businesses. “We’re finding all these different pathways,” LeClair said.
Group photo. Center, MassDOT District Hwy Director Francisca Heming and MassWorks Project Manager Jacqueline Furtado and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito are surrounded by representatives of the town of Chester.
Polito asked LeClair to outline what businesses she might attract on the parcels she’s identified. LeClair responded that Broadband access which will be completed in Chester and Huntington next summer, will help attract online and home-based businesses. She also said warehouses such as Azure Green’s in Middlefield work for online businesses. Polito said she has visited Azure Green with Mike Knapik.
Polito said regarding the Broadband piece, of 53 unserved communities, they’re now down to 8 by the end of the year. The others are doing it on their own or in the process of pole surveys. “It goes to what you’ve been saying about opportunities online,” she said.
Patrick Beaudry of Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, a partner of the Community Compact work said he’s helping with the next step of branding and marketing. Polito said PVPC is a great partner in the effort.
Beaudry said efficiency and regionalization are also being worked on with Community Compact dollars. Chester selectman Barbara Huntoon said that a proposal for shared financial services in the town is also advancing. Myers said a six-town workshop on a Saturday on shared financial services two months ago was well attended, with participation from vendors. “That moves a little slower than economic development,” Myers said, adding that people came with tough questions, worried about employees in their towns.
“I have enjoyed so much the visits across the Commonwealth, and to be able to work directly with you on moving towards your goals,” Polito said. “I think it’s very exciting. Thank you for all of your efforts,” she added.
“I myself would like to say thanks very much. I’ve been here many years. Before, we talked about mutual aid only in emergencies, now we’re talking about shared services,” Senecal said. “We’re so grateful for your support,” added Huntoon.
“I just want to say thank you,” said Olwen Dowling, one of the residents that fought for renovation of East River Road for years, who came to meet the Lt. Governor, In response to a question, Dowling said her family purchased land in Chester in 1975, and moved to the town in the late 80’s.
After Polito and Knapik left to attend another meeting in the town of Mount Washington, Huntoon said she was “honored and thrilled that she came.”
“It shows the commitment on the state level for local issues. That’s big for us, especially being pretty far away from the center.” Myers said.
“The governor and lieutenant governor were selectmen, so they understand. We’re pretty excited for Chester’s future,” added Senecal.
