(9/1) Maple & Maryland Ave. Road Work

Reconstruction of Maple Ave and Maryland Ave has been ongoing for a large portion of the summer. Ideally, the repairs will improve safety and accessibility for residents, business owners, and essential services. At the August 9 meeting, questions were raised by resident Laurie Haims about the newly designed sidewalk's configuration, which extends further into the roadway than it previously had. Haims expressed concerns about emergency equipment navigation, bus turns, snow management, and issues with line of sight. In response, Director of Public Works Joe Birch clarified that the expansion was necessary to make the sidewalk ADA compliant, and that the change was carefully planned with the help of a traffic engineer to ensure that the roadway would still remain functional in all aspects.

In addition, the town council approved an additional $64,240 expenditure for the Maple and Maryland Avenues project, which will help fortify the stone base underneath the roadway.

Town Code Changes

Amendments to the town code and charter secured unanimous approval following a public hearing session that yielded no comments. These revisions align with the recommendations of a firm commissioned by the town to review outdated and inconsistent items in preparation for the electronic publication of these documents.

Playground Equipment Funding

Joe Birch of the town’s maintenance department, presented a funding proposal for the construction of a new playground slide at Heritage Farm Park, prompted by safety concerns surrounding the current spiral slide. The proposed budget of $7,150 for this project was approved, with the project expected to take place in the fall.

Birch also sought funding from the town for the replacement of the fire alarm and sprinkler control system at the water treatment plant. A total of $8,506 was sanctioned for this critical upgrade.