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Dighton authorizes Pleasant Street Bridge takings and accepts Muddy Cove Lane after funding assurances
Summary
After extended debate on local costs and environmental concerns, town meeting approved $7,000 for appraisals and easement authority related to the Pleasant Street Bridge and separately accepted Muddy Cove Lane as a public way to allow state/federal-funded work to proceed.
Dighton voters on June 1 approved a $7,000 free‑cash transfer to fund appraisals and granted the Board of Selectmen authority to acquire easements and parcels needed for the Pleasant Street Bridge reconstruction, after residents questioned the town'9s potential share of project costs and asked for clearer financial details.
Why it matters: Town officials said federal and state grants cover most construction costs and that failing to authorize takings could jeopardize approximately $3 million in outside funding already secured for the project. A resident, Ron Marino, argued the town could be liable for millions and urged rejection; he said the town should delay bridge work while tightening its budget.
Town administrator responded that the town has already received federal and state commitments and that the requested $7,000 covers appraisals and easement work. He told meeting attendees the project has roughly $3 million in federal/state funding and that MassDOT would cover remaining construction costs; officials warned that missing the construction advertisement deadline would forfeit the awards.
Residents also raised ecological concerns, requests for clearer breakdowns of what land and easements would be affected, and whether temporary construction access (including Muddy Cove Lane) would be required. Engineers and the administrator explained that the work includes federal and state permitting (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, MassDEP) and that Muddy Cove would be used for staging rather than as a permanent public thoroughfare. Later in the meeting, Article 21 accepted Muddy Cove Lane as a town way so the bridge work could proceed with the grant funding; that motion passed unanimously.
What happened procedurally: A motion to table Article 18 failed (48 yes, 71 no) and discussion continued; the article later passed. Multiple residents asked that the town publish clearer financial details of local obligations before further commitments are made.
What'9s next: With authority granted, selectmen have the power to negotiate appraisals and temporary/permanent easements; engineers will continue permit work and coordinate required environmental reviews. Acceptance of Muddy Cove Lane clears a municipal ownership requirement tied to state/federal construction grants.
