James Putnam III, left, was the moderator of last night’s Southwick Special Town Meeting and the Annual Town Meeting staged at the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Residents of Robin Road will have a $10,000 study of their street paid for by the town.
Town Meeting voters overwhelmingly supported the article at a Special Town Meeting last night that took place right before the Annual Town Meeting at Southwick Tolland Granville Regional High School.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Russell Fox explained the situation for voters not familiar with Robin Road.
“When it was built in the ’80s, the bond was released before it was properly turned over to the town,” said Fox. “The town dropped the ball . . . We’re trying to correct this mistake.”
The road has greatly deteriorated over the years and is need of major repair.
Residents met several times with the Southwick Planning Board and selectmen, and were given several options, including paying for the study themselves, which would have expedited the process. The residents chose to go to Town Meeting for the funds.
Marcus Phelps, a Depot Street resident, made an amendment on the floor to include language that the residents of Robin Road would repay the town through betterment fees.
Planning Board Chairman Douglas Moglin spoke against the amendment.
“I would urge anyone to defeat the amendment,” said Moglin. “I don’t think it’s reasonable to impose this on those residents.”
Phelps said he was concerned about policy and setting precedence for residents of other roads not accepted by the town. Residents of Robin Road said theirs was a “unique” situation and voters agreed.
Last night’s Southwick Special Town Meeting opened with 49 registered voters. The special meeting was staged prior to the Annual Town Meeting at the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Also during the Special Meeting voters approved using $350,000 from the stabilization fund for the design of the first part of Phase II of the sewer system.
“We now have the capacity to start Phase II of the sewer system,” said Fox, referencing the completion of the Parallel Sewer Interceptor Project.
The Sewer Implementation Committee (SIC) recommended starting with the Powder Mill Road area, which includes the school campus and Pineywood neighborhood.
Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown said this phase would bring sewer service to 150 new customers.
“It includes 9,000 feet of pipe and one new pumping station,” said Brown, adding that the neighborhood is a wellhead protected area.
“Forty percent of property owners there have reported septic problems,” Brown said.
During the Annual Town Meeting the budget of approximately $11 million was approved with little fanfare or opposition.
Questions were raised on Article 14, which was to appropriate and transfer $70,000 from the Community Preservation Open Space Fund to construct a helical pier boardwalk to span the wetlands at the trailhead of the MMM/New England Scenic Trail at Rising Corners.
Conservation Commission Coordinator Dennis Clark said the town was approached by the Appalachian Mountain Club to partner on the project.
The article was not recommended by the Finance Committee.
“We have concerns about the cost,” said Finance Committee Chairman Robert Horacek.
The committee was also concerned that having an ADA compliant bridge could trip a requirement to revamp the entire trail to comply with the ADA.
Clark said the trail leading to the bridge is wheelchair accessible but the trail beyond the bridge is not.
Resident Ruth Preston said the trail is used by “many people” and it runs from New Hampshire through Massachusetts into Connecticut.
The article passed with a majority vote.
Town Meeting unanimously approved a school department budget of just over $10 million and approved transferring $50,000 from Community Preservation funds to compete a new outdoor track at the schools.
A temporary moratorium on common driveways recommended by the Planning Board was also approved.
