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CPC presses town staff on aging bridges, historic preservation closeouts and Wright Tavern progress
Summary
At the Sept. 24 meeting, members flagged the deteriorating Chamberlain Park bridge and slow closeout of older grants, discussed historic‑preservation survey progress, and welcomed a major grant for Wright Tavern restoration while asking staff to finish preservation‑restriction paperwork.
Committee members used the Sept. 24 meeting to press staff for concreteness on long‑running projects, including the Chamberlain Park bridge, historic‑preservation surveys, and Wright Tavern restoration.
Chair Burton Flint described the Chamberlain Park bridge as “falling down” and “a death trap,” citing a site visit and saying the project, funded in FY22, shows construction still scheduled out in FY2029. Members expressed concern that money allocated years ago is losing purchasing power and asked staff to follow up with Delia and obtain permitting and procurement timelines.
On historic preservation, staff reported the consultant’s Phase 1 work is complete and Phase 2 public outreach (including a community survey with roughly 350 respondents) is nearly finished. Anne said the town also received a matching grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission to support the work.
Members reviewed Wright Tavern updates: the organization has secured a substantial follow‑on grant (about $500,000) to continue design and preservation work. Staff noted preservation‑restriction paperwork required by the grant had not been finalized and asked grantees to complete documents to close earlier grants.
Other items covered included the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail projects (Elizabeth Hughes noted as planner lead) and a small pool of remaining town projects such as drinking‑fountain installations and invasive‑species removal at Hayward/ Haywood Meadow. The committee requested more frequent, clearer status reporting and asked staff to provide redlined plan updates and printed copies for members ahead of substantive review.
Next steps: staff to follow up on Chamberlain Park permitting and construction schedule, confirm preservation‑restriction filings for Wright Tavern/Robin’s House, and circulate printed and redlined copies of the community preservation plan.
