Mill Pond Crossing residents ask for plowing; board says roads are private, takes no action

Residents of the Mill Pond Crossing condominium association asked the Brentwood Select Board to authorize town plowing of their streets, saying they have paid municipal taxes for 15–18 years but do not currently receive town plowing service.

At the meeting condominium board president Patricia Castelasquez said the community of 47 homes includes many senior residents and asked whether the town would plow their roads for the coming season while they pursue a warrant article to seek formal acceptance at Town Meeting. Castelasquez said the association has received contractor bids for three-year plowing contracts that would cost tens of thousands of dollars and asked whether the town could provide interim service: “We have been paying approximately 18 years taxes… and every year, we pay for our roads to be plowed and not receiving any benefit for it.”

Town staff and the land-use administrator said the roads were never intended to be town roads and were built as private roads without the rights-of-way, shoulders or drainage required for town adoption. Land-use Administrator Mark Kennedy told the board: “This road was never intended to be a town road. It was always intended to be a private road.” He recommended against adoption without an engineer’s review, noting drainage, lack of right-of-way, stone walls and pavement edges that would create liability and maintenance obligations for the town if accepted.

Why it matters: residents argued they pay the same property taxes as other homeowners while still arranging and paying for private maintenance. Town officials said accepting and maintaining a roadway that does not meet town standards would transfer liability to the municipality and that significant infrastructure changes would be required before formal adoption.

Board response and next steps: board members did not move to have the highway department plow Mill Pond Crossing for the coming season. Some board members suggested the association could prepare a warrant article for Town Meeting but cautioned that engineering work and rights-of-way would likely be required for the town to accept the roads. No motion was made to provide temporary plowing.

Ending: The Select Board did not approve municipal plowing. Residents were advised that adopting the road would require upgrading it to town standards and that any formal acceptance should include an engineer’s assessment and a clearly drafted warrant before the town takes responsibility.