Selectmen approve exploring sheet-pile repair, temporary Day Street reopening

The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday to pursue sheet-pile repair options for the Day Street bridge and to explore a temporary two-lane reopening using town funds, aiming to have a temporary road in place by Dec. 1, 2026.

First Selectman Joe Bellavance summarized options presented at a May 28 town forum and identified BL Companies and Earth Retention Systems as firms involved in assessing four possible repair approaches. Bellavance said the town is seeking aerial or drone imagery and that other property owners may need to be involved in any permanent repair plan.

Selectman Kayla Burgess moved to proceed with the sheet-pile options (described as options 2 and 4 at the forum); Selectman Sherri Vogt seconded and the motion passed after Bellavance clarified the motion was to explore that approach. Later, Vogt moved that the town use town funds and staff to open Day Street to two-lane traffic by moving the road inward; Bellavance clarified the motion should be to explore a temporary solution using local funds, including TAR (Town Aid Road) and LOCIP (Local Capital Improvement Program). Burgess seconded and the motion passed.

Board members discussed a target date of Dec. 1, 2026, for implementing a temporary road while further study proceeds on a permanent solution. The board also raised the need to coordinate permits and property-owner agreements if the permanent repairs require work on adjacent land.

During the conversation the selectmen also turned to fire services, noting concerns about volunteer retention and recruitment and discussing support measures such as a point system and the existing tax abatement program.

Next steps: staff were directed to begin exploring the sheet-pile approach and to develop options and cost estimates for a temporary two-lane reopening using local funds; the board did not set a public vote on a funding appropriation in these motions.