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Selectmen say Railroad Street sidewalk extension will use Stone sidewalk trust funds
Summary
Town officials told the Board of Selectmen that a planned sidewalk extension on Railroad Street will cost about $81,600, include granite curbing, and is expected to be paid from the town's Stone sidewalk trust; the project will be carried out by DPW with Jay Evans Construction doing concrete work.
Town officials told the Swanzey Board of Selectmen that a planned extension of the Railroad Street sidewalk, which will cross Eaton Road and go across Summer Street, has an estimated cost of $81,600 and will be funded from the town's Stone sidewalk trust.
The presenter said the estimate includes granite curbing and that the town will use existing contractors who are already under contract for other sidewalk work. "The estimate of the project is 81,600. That includes granite curbing," the presenter said. Staff told the board that Jay Evans Construction will do the concrete work while the town's Department of Public Works (DPW) will perform most of the remaining tasks.
The presenter said contractor bids on North Winchester and California Street had come in low, and both the general contractor and the granite curbing company agreed to honor their prices for the Railroad Street work. The presenter reported a unit price for granite curbing of $34.99 per linear foot, compared with previous estimates as high as about $70 per linear foot. The presenter said the sidewalk committee had originally planned for a concrete edge but opted for granite because of the lower price and the longer expected longevity.
Board members asked about the funding source and whether the town manages the trust. Richard (staff) explained the Stone sidewalk trust was created from a bequest and that previous boards have used the trust to fund sidewalks and related work each year. The presenter said about $150,000 from the trust is already earmarked to help fund the North Winchester and California Street project, and that a requisition and supporting documentation will be submitted by the sidewalk committee to release funds.
Board members asked for the trust balance; Richard said the principal balance as of the prior January 1 was approximately $1,700,000 and that the annual income portion available for sidewalks was much smaller. A final requisition for the Railroad Street extension will be provided to the board when the committee submits formal documentation.
The presenter said the sidewalk committee is treating this item as an informational update rather than an action item and that the committee expects to proceed shortly.
Questions from selectmen focused on funding oversight (who signs requisitions and where the trust records are kept) and on matching materials and appearance to other recent sidewalk projects.
