Highway Committee Minutes 8-28-19

Highway Committee Meeting 8-28-19

RUTLAND TOWN SELECT BOARD

HIGHWAY COMMITTEE MEETING

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28th, 2019

The Highway Committee of the Rutland Town Select Board met at 9:00 AM on Wednesday August 28th at Town Hall. Present was Board Clerk Mary Ashcroft, Board member Joe Denardo Town Road Commissioner Byron Hathaway and Town Administrative Assistant Bill Sweet.

  1. The committee discussed installing a sidewalk along Route 7 North near McKinley Avenue.
    1. Reviewed possible location, whether on the East or West side of the road.
    2. Some grant funding may be available, but could require a match up to 20%.
    3. Discussed any potential snow removal issues.
    4. A scoping study would need to be done first. This would give recommendations on location, cross walks, signals and more. It would cost between $30,000 and $35,000 of which a grant could cover up to 80%.
    5. This could potentially tie into the shared use path project.
    6. This would allow a connection from our Town School to the city sidewalk system.
    7. This project was included on the Highway 5 year plan.
    8. The next round for grants is very soon and an application is unlikely to be able to be ready in time. The next round will be in 2020 and we plan an application for then.
  2. The committee discussed the shared use path project.
    1. There are 3 potential properties which could connect the path from Northwood to Chasanna Drive. So far no property owners have granted permission to use their land.
    2. Discussed sending a letter to the property owners who would be best to have the path cross. The letter would inform them the town is interested in purchasing an easement from them, review the responses and negotiate for the easement.
    3. There will be no sidewalk along most of Chasanna Drive, with the exception of a small section from the intersection of Post Road of to the crest of the first hill.
    4. When Post Road is repaved it will be widened and a sidewalk will be installed up to Chasanna Drive from the school.
  3. The committee discussed a request by the homeowners association on Carmel Place to waive the requirement of as built plans for their road.
    1. A survey will need to be done to establish the right of way and property line details.
    2. An easement will be needed for drainage maintenance.
    3. Rutland City DPW will likely have measurement and location for water main lines.
    4. This will be discussed with the full board at the next meeting.
    5. Byron is confident in the construction of the road itself, as he was able to view the construction as it went along.
  4. The committee discussed the possibility that the Town of Clarendon will ask to buy out our half of the mower currently shared by the 2 municipalities.
    1. If this happens, the town would need to buy another mower, which is in the Highway 5 year plan.
    2. The best option for a replacement would be a tractor with a boom mower.
    3. Used ones are available from a variety of sources which Byron has looked into.
    4. The funds to purchase the replacement mower would come from them highway depreciation account.
    5. Discussed if it would need to be bid, due to the fact it would be a used mower and not new. No decision was made.
    6. A joint agreement between the Town of Rutland and the Town of Mendon could be possible. The combined mileage for mowing of those 2 towns is the same as the Town of Clarendon alone.
    7. We would need to negotiate our share balance for the buyout. The committee agreed $10,000 would be a fair price. The original cost of $32,000 was split evenly and all major maintenance costs have been split.
    8. The committee agreed it would be ok to sell our share and purchasing a used one in its place.
    9. If an agreement with Mendon was made it may not be an even split since we have more miles of mowing to do.
  5. The committee discussed the status of the slip lane project on Route 7 South.
    1. The expiration date of the extended permit is not known but will be researched.

There being no other business the meeting adjourned at 10:00 AM.  Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet.