Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
School committee approves Eagle Scout plan to rebuild South School nature-trail bridge
Summary
The Hingham School Committee voted May 5 to approve Eagle Scout candidate Huck Shaughnessy’s proposal to clear fallen trees and rebuild a 12-by-4-foot footbridge on the South School nature trail; volunteers and adults will assist and the project will use concrete footings and pressure-treated wood.
The Hingham School Committee on May 5 approved an Eagle Scout project by Huck Shaughnessy to clear storm-downed trees and rebuild a footbridge on the South School nature trail.
Shaughnessy, introduced to the committee as an Eagle Scout candidate, told the committee he plans to clear six fallen trees from the path and build a 12-foot-long, 4-foot-wide bridge set about 2 feet above a stream with railings. "I'm going to be building the bridge that was downed or that was destroyed," Shaughnessy said. He said most work will be done with hand tools, with limited adult use of power tools for safety reasons, and that adult volunteers from Troop 4 and parents will assist.
The candidate described structural details to the committee: he plans to set four beams in footings dug about 4 feet deep, fill them with concrete and use a durable, treated wood to reduce rot. A committee member noted that one of the candidate’s parents is a civil engineer; Shaughnessy confirmed he has adult engineering support.
Committee members asked logistical questions about timeline and approvals. Shaughnessy estimated the work could take one to two months depending on summer availability and said he has principal approval from South School. The committee voted to accept his proposal for an Eagle Scout project; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
The trail is used by fifth-grade field science classes and other students, which committee members cited when expressing appreciation for the project. The committee did not attach additional conditions at the meeting; Shaughnessy said he would submit required proposal materials and proceed once approvals are complete.
