Board members press for power, piping and geogrid decisions for Town Commons and proposed ice rink

Town board members and staff used the meeting to refine next steps for the Town Commons master plan (referred to in the meeting as the “B&L plan”), with particular attention to three interrelated infrastructure issues: piping or ditching a creek/ditch through the commons, the use of geogrid under a proposed ice rink and where to place a future band shell to reduce long-term conflicts over utilities.

Several members said piping the creek to the bridge would help make the area usable for events and facilitate a band shell nearby; others noted that any piping or covering would require clearance from state regulators (the Department of Environmental Conservation was explicitly named) and possible coordination with the state’s right-of-way. Mike and other members described an approach of piping to the bridge and covering the pipe so the band shell and plaza area can be sited without an open ditch between audience and stage.

Discussion focused heavily on the ice rink concept. Some members said a refrigerated rink needs substantial electrical capacity and refrigeration equipment; others argued a temporary rink with mats or a non-refrigerated seasonal surface could be installed quickly without geogrid or large electrical upgrades. One town board member urged a pragmatic approach: “level the ground and build an ice rink” now rather than wait multiple years for geogrid, while another emphasized long-term infrastructure considerations and the advantages of following a dig-once approach to extend conduit, power and lighting where the band shell and other future facilities will be placed.

Participants agreed that determining the power source and getting National Grid (and municipal approvals) into the queue should be an early priority. Town staff said they would open discussions with National Grid and identified potential tap locations near the McDonald’s pole or Whitehaven; staff also noted existing constraints on the town hall service and that charging station infrastructure was on a different line, so detailed routing and transformer placement will require engineering study.

Members discussed sequencing: do piping and conduit now and leave surface/amenity build-out for later, or delay piping pending full funding. Several members argued not to postpone preparing an RFP-based construction package (design, geogrid, electrical stub-outs) so that when funding is available the town can proceed without multiple mobilizations of heavy equipment. Others said the immediate, higher-priority step is to secure power quotes and place a request with the utility because lead times for poles and transformers can be months.

No formal vote or binding decision was recorded at the meeting. Board members said they had four of five town board votes “on board” to advance the plan steps and that staff would refine the B&L plan details, prepare an RFP when appropriate and prioritize electrical coordination with the utility as the near-term action.

Provenance: Meeting excerpts where the B&L plan, piping, ice rink, geogrid and utility coordination were discussed.