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Council asks staff to meet with volunteer about Main Street power washing; staff to assess permissions and risks
Summary
A local resident offered to power-wash the 100 block of Main Street for free; council asked staff to meet him, review property- and right-of-way issues, insurance and potential masonry damage, and report back with options including business-led or town-coordinated alternatives.
Council discussed Jan. 28 a volunteer offer to power-wash the 100 block of Main Street and asked staff to meet with the volunteer and affected property owners to assess logistics and risk. Town Administrator Rachel Clinton said a local resident who previously cleaned neighborhood signs and parks offered to clean downtown sidewalks at no cost; staff described potential issues that must be resolved before work could proceed.
Clinton said staff would need property-owner permission in parts of downtown where private property lines extend into the sidewalk, coordinate with businesses on timing, and require the volunteer to sign a liability waiver. She noted there are sections of historic brick and mortar with a softer mortar that staff has not tested for power-washing and said unintended masonry damage is possible. "There is a potential that power washing would get underway and potentially destroy the mortar and the brick," Clinton said.
Council members discussed alternatives including asking the volunteer to coordinate with downtown merchants, having a business-led effort through the merchants association, or using a public-works plan once staffing allows. Several council members suggested the wine-walk or other events that temporarily close the street could be an opportunistic window to use a vendor or volunteer when road closures are already in place.
Council did not authorize cleanup work at the meeting; instead it asked staff to meet the volunteer on Main Street, confirm property-right and DOT closure constraints, and return to council with options and a recommended approach. Council asked that staff include guidance on insurance or naming the town as an additional insured should a volunteer or private contractor proceed.
What happens next: staff will schedule a meeting with the volunteer and key department staff to review right-of-way, property-owner permissions, potential masonry impacts and insurance options, and will report back to council with options and a recommended plan.
