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Board asked to authorize $5,000–$10,000 to start CSX railroad review tied to FEMA project
Summary
Select Board members were asked to authorize $5,000–$10,000 to start CSX’s review process for dormant-track work so an ongoing FEMA-funded repair project can proceed; members noted engineering costs of about $20,000 are already committed and that FEMA reimbursement of any railroad review fee is not guaranteed.
A board member (Speaker 9) asked the Select Board to authorize between $5,000 and $10,000 to start CSX’s formal review process for work on dormant railroad track, explaining that the railroad’s process carries a minimum $5,000 fee and that the town has engineering costs already incurred.
Speaker 9 said the engineering plan is done and the request is to get the railroad’s review started this summer so the project does not get delayed past grant deadlines. The speaker warned that while FEMA funding might be available to reimburse the fee, "there's no guarantee," and noted the town had already spent roughly $20,000 on engineering. Members discussed using an existing professional-services budget line (about $7,500 remaining) to cover the initial payment.
Members expressed concern about deadlines and the risk of losing reimbursement eligibility if the review is not started promptly. The board directed staff to identify the appropriate line item and to bring a formal motion or cost authorization back to the board for vote if necessary.
