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Swansea forms covered-bridge committee to study over-height protections
Summary
The select board approved adding a representative to a committee led by DPW Director Joe D'Russo to study passive protections, public outreach and possible voter approval needed for work on the town's covered bridges.
The Swansea Select Board voted to add a select board representative to a newly formed covered-bridge committee that will study physical protections and public outreach for several town covered bridges. The committee, led by DPW Director Joe D'Russo, will hold public meetings and develop proposals that could require voter approval.
Board members approved adding Jim Contessa as the select board representative to a committee convened by Joe D'Russo to look at ways to prevent vehicle strikes on covered bridges. The committee membership announced at the meeting includes Scott Self, Gordy Ayotte, Jeff Hirt, Mike Faulkner and Lisa Thorne, with D'Russo to initiate the process.
The board said the committee will research potential measures, hold public hearings and prepare any warrant articles that would be required for a March ballot and the deliberative session. "It is a project that would need to go to the voters for the March vote and obviously through the deliberative session," a select board member said at the meeting. The board also discussed coordination with the state for bridges the town does not control.
Committee discussion at the meeting ranged from traditional protective structures to electronic over-height detection. One select board member described a solar-powered over-height detector that flashes to warn over-height vehicles and suggested recording evidence of violations; another board member noted privacy and enforcement limits on recording systems and cautioned that some structures or devices would require state approval for certain bridges.
The board said it would seek public input before moving forward. "There'll be public meetings on the topic to solicit people's opinions on it," Joe D'Russo said at the meeting. The board approved the addition of the select board representative by voice vote; members were invited to attend the future public meetings.
The committee's work will determine what, if any, physical or electronic measures the town proposes to voters and which bridges are within the town's authority to alter.
