Barre City Council OKs submission of three hazard‑mitigation grant applications and approves MOU to remove railroad trestle

Barre City Council voted unanimously to authorize the city to submit three applications to the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and later approved a memorandum of understanding with the railroad to remove Trestle Bridge 308.

City Manager Nicholas told the council the applications target three flood‑mitigation projects discussed during months of planning: removal of the low Berlin Street bridge and replacement with a pedestrian span and raised utilities; rebuilding and elevating the Willey Street bridge; and redesigning the Harrington Avenue debris rack to reduce flood impacts. “There’s a lot of details to work out,” Nicholas said, noting the applications would fund design phases and that the city would not be penalized for submitting multiple proposals. He said the state is allocating disaster funding and that making several applications increases the city’s options.

Councilors and residents discussed risks and trade‑offs. Longtime neighborhood resident Bernie asked where traffic would be routed if the Berlin Street bridge is removed; Nicholas and others said traffic modeling and further evaluation would be needed before final decisions. Amy Galford, who has participated in the project discussions, cautioned that removing the Berlin Street bridge without addressing downstream constraints could worsen water levels; she asked whether removal applications would be limited to studying alternatives rather than committing the city to removal. City staff replied the design phase funded by HMGP would allow those alternatives and refinements.

The council then unanimously approved a separate memorandum of understanding enabling the railroad to remove Trestle Bridge 308 quickly. Mayor said railroad crews were expected to mobilize “pretty quickly,” and that removal would eliminate a known debris‑catching hazard. Councilors noted the railroad has stated an intention to seek permitting to rebuild the trestle; the MOU, the mayor said, does not waive any city rights during future permitting and is intended to accelerate removal of an immediate flood hazard.

Council voted to authorize the HMGP submissions after staff presentation and comments from Alex and Roy (city engineering staff). The motion to submit the three applications carried. The later motion to approve the MOU also passed unanimously.

What the votes mean: approval to submit HMGP applications does not commit the city to construction or to a final design. If an application is awarded, staff said, the design and permitting phases would include traffic and hydrology analyses and further public review. The MOU with the railroad commits the city to the removal action as negotiated but preserves the city’s ability to participate in any future permitting process for a replacement structure.

The councilors who spoke in support described the vote as creating options for a city that lacks funds to undertake major mitigation without external grants. Opponents and concerned residents urged careful sequencing of projects to avoid making flooding worse in other locations.