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Select board reviews capital plan priorities: Hatchtown Bridge kickoff, Stone Arch planning and a multi-year fire-truck estimate
Summary
Town staff updated the select board on capital priorities tied to the comprehensive plan, including a Hatchtown Bridge loan and construction kickoff, multi-year planning for Stone Arch Bridge, a preliminary $750,000 estimate for a replacement fire truck and grant-seeking for park restrooms and shoreline stabilization.
Town staff presented the capital investment components of the comprehensive-plan update and asked the Select Board to confirm priorities and identify any missing items.
Staff said the town has closed on a loan for the Hatchtown Bridge (staff cited an amount near $1.165 million) and scheduled a construction kickoff meeting with the contractor and engineer; staff said the project technically must be completed by late November under the loan timeline and described an incentive to finish earlier. "We closed on the loans in April' I think it's 1,165; we can get you the exact number later," a staff presenter said.
Board members and staff discussed the Stone Arch Bridge on Benner Road as a longer-term capital project. Staff estimated the Stone Arch work would likely exceed $1 million and fall in a one- to five-year planning window depending on permitting and historic-preservation constraints because the bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.
A replacement for the town's fire truck was discussed as a separate capital need. Staff described the unit as a multi-year purchase with a two- to three-year lead time and a preliminary cost estimation in the neighborhood of $750,000; staff also said the volunteer fire company may contribute from its investment account and the town has some capital reserve funds available.
Parks priorities include replacement restrooms at Lighthouse Park and a shoreline-stabilization project; staff said the town plans to apply to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and could request up to $500,000 (staff described it as a competitive grant with a 1:1 match requirement). Staff said if the LWCF application succeeds, both the restroom replacement and shoreline stabilization could be completed within one to two years.
Board members also reviewed smaller capital items including fish-ladder capstone and safety railing work (staff estimated the capstone/railing work in the tens of thousands; staff said about $90,000 remained in a related appropriation after prior purchases), transfer-station scale replacement (nearing completion) and longer-range technology upgrades for boards.
Board members asked staff to incorporate parks, road maintenance and transfer-station projects into the capital plan and to circulate more precise cost figures and grant application details before the next planning-board review.
