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Selectman urges grilling of regional council after Albany loses prioritized Route 161/13 intersection project
Summary
A Selectman told the Albany board the town’s Route 161/13 intersection project — previously ranked No. 1 — was passed over by the TAC and Randolph was prioritized; the board agreed to invite the North Country Council representative to explain the decision and pressed for stronger advocacy next year.
A Selectman told the Albany Selectmen on Aug. 13 that the town’s Route 161/13 intersection improvement — which Albany believed was the top-ranked project — had been passed over on the regional 10-year priority list after a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) vote.
"We were told we're number 1," the Committee member said. After reviewing minutes the member said the TAC had favored a Randolph intersection project that was described as more "shovel ready," and said Albany’s representation on the TAC did not carry the town’s interests. "We lost it through the TAC committee," the member said.
Board members expressed frustration with the process and proposed inviting the North Country Council representative who had been expected to represent Albany to appear before the Selectmen. A Committee member moved to invite the representative and press for a stronger case for the project next year; the board agreed.
The Selectmen discussed holding back a $1,000 payment to the planning commission until they felt the town had adequate representation and said they would pursue direct conversations with regional officials and their state senator to seek clarity on why Albany’s project was de-prioritized. The Town Administrator said she would follow up on arranging an appearance by the regional representative.
