Holyoke committee advances fixes for several unaccepted private roads, asks mayor for short‑term paving and survey funds
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Summary
The Public Safety Committee on Nov. 25 approved orders advancing repairs and, in some cases, public‑acceptance work for Old Bassett, Cedar Hill, Brookwood and West Cherry roads; motions ranged from requesting a 2‑inch overlay to ordering full‑depth paving and approving Brookwood’s acceptance.
The Holyoke Public Safety Committee voted Nov. 25 to advance a slate of actions aimed at unaccepted and deteriorated private roads, approving a mix of short‑term paving and steps to begin the formal acceptance process for several stretches that officials say are increasingly impassable by emergency vehicles.
On Old Bassett Road the committee voted to ask the mayor to provide funding for a 2‑inch overlay as a near‑term fix and to begin the state acceptance process — including surveying, title exams and design work — so the city can pursue Chapter 90 eligibility later. City engineer Victoria explained the road was discontinued as a county highway in 1858, abutters generally own to the centerline, and acceptance would likely require widening to a 50‑foot right‑of‑way, appraisals or voluntary land donations. The committee’s motion asks the mayor to identify an appropriation for both the overlay and initial surveying/tax‑title work; the committee voted to forward the order to full council for consideration on Dec. 2.
Councilors and staff discussed cost tradeoffs. DPW cited a preliminary 2‑inch overlay estimate of about $18,500 for the short segment, while more extensive reconstruction or widening figures ranged into the low hundreds of thousands; one participant said the full acceptance and rebuild could be "upwards of $500,000." City Solicitor Mike Bissonnette warned that complex deeds, conservation restrictions and cross‑jurisdictional ownership make some acceptance paths difficult and expensive.
For Cedar Hill Road, where the road alignment crosses private parcels and driveways, the committee approved a motion to pursue full‑depth paving rather than a thin overlay; staff said reconstruction is likely required to address subgrade and drainage issues. Brookwood Road was approved for acceptance as a public way after committee members said acceptance would allow access to state bridge inspection grants and relieve homeowners of bridge maintenance responsibility. The motion to accept Brookwood passed by roll call.
West Cherry Street, described by councilors as one of the city’s most deteriorated private ways and the longest of the items discussed, was ordered to be paved by the city. DPW cautioned that West Cherry likely needs substantial drainage and subgrade work for a lasting fix and that simple overlays may fail quickly in shaded, groundwater‑affected sections.
Residents who attended urged action. Betsy of 85 Jarvis Ave described repeated difficulty receiving emergency and service vehicles and said homeowners have endured years of patches and uncertainty. State Rep. Pat Duffy participated remotely and recommended pursuing short‑term paving while initiating the formal inventory/submission process with MassDOT to seek Chapter 90 eligibility.
The committee also voted to receive and archive staff materials related to the Old Bassett discontinuance and the city’s road acceptance procedure so councilors and staff have the documents available for follow‑up. Several other minor orders (signage, a resident’s property‑purchase inquiry) were tabled for additional engineering review or clarification.