River Street conditions hot topic at Springfield Select Board meeting

The terrible condition of River St. was the hot topic at Monday’s (April 14) Select Board Meeting in Springfield.
http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/river-street-conditions-hot-topic-springfield-select-board-meeting

River Street Conditions Hot Topic at Springfield Select Board Meeting Submitted by admin on Tue, 04/15/2014 - 3:45pm By ANNE DEMPSEY The Shopper SPRINGFIELD, VT -The terrible condition of River St. was the hot topic at Monday’s (April 14) Select Board Meeting in Springfield. The board agreed that something had to be done. Money was the main obstacle. The only solution available is a short-term fix. The town will patch the potholes with hot mix and hope that the state Agency of Transportation will find some funds to help towns like Springfield with their roads. Unfortunately, the hot mix will most likely be scraped off River St. by the plows next winter. So, next spring, the road will be in the same bad shape. The state Agency of Transportation has agreed to pay for the re-pavement of River St. but not until next year. The town plans on creating a RSMS document by July 1, which will spell out how much money will be spent on roads and which roads will be worked on in the future. The major paving project for this summer is the Pleasant Valley Rd. Budgeted at a cost of $620,000, available funds for this project are now down to $610,000. Then, concerns about the utility infrastructure beneath the local roads were explored. The water line from the VFW to the downtown shops was put in in 1901. The main sewer line, installed in the 1950’s, is made of clay tile. These both will eventually need to be replaced. Vtel’s phone line runs right on top of the town’s water line. If repairs to the water line are needed, workers must work around the phone lines. Thus, increasing expenses. The RSMS document detailing plans for road improvement will also include the infrastructure systems underneath the road. Old trolley train tracks are also below the surface of Main St. Both the rails and ties will have to be taken out if there was ever a major waterline break. A number of buildings downtown are not equipped with sprinkler systems. The Town Hall is one example. The Odd Fellow’s is another. The second and third floors of some buildings can’t be used as apartment rentals, unless sprinkler systems are installed. However, their installation would require tearing up portions of the road to access the water line. Disruption of traffic flows and the expenses involved for the town could become major issues. On other matters, the board agreed to a resolution establishing the Springfield Energy Committee and recognizing its mission statement. Specific goals of this committee will be developed in future meetings. Citizen Jack Snide requested that the town do something about the drain water coming from Litchfield Street over his bank and through his property. Board members acknowledged that Mr. Snide had been dealing with this situation for over ten years. The board will request the town’s lawyer to look into the legality of re-directing the water by getting special easements to do so. A parade permit was granted to the Springfield High School Alumni Association for Saturday, June 14. Tom Bishop of Calvary Baptist Church will have the annual blessing of bikers on May 18. This is to alert the town that there will be more motorcycles on the road that day. - See more at: http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/river-street-conditions-hot-topic-springfield-select-board-meeting#sthash.gQhQTctC.dpuf