Town of Greenfield
Dodge Road Informational Meeting
Thursday – February 7, 2008 – 6:30 pm
Call to Order at 6:30 pm
Present: Selectman Adams; Selectwoman Day; Chairman Kullgren
Administrative Assistant, Deb Davidson taking minutes
Road Agent: Duffy Fox
Several Residents were in attendance for this meeting – attached is a sign in sheet.
Fire Chief Jim Plourde was present for a brief moment before the meeting was called to order. Chief Plourde wanted to give his thoughts to the Board as to the importance of keeping Dodge Road open for fire safety purposes.
Administrative Assistant mentioned this meeting was noticed in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, Greenfield Post Office, and the Town Office, on the Website and was posted in the Greenfield Spirit.
Chairman Kullgren opened the meeting with introductions and discussed options for Dodge Road. The Town has already spent $19,000.00 for engineering costs on this project. Engineering costs estimated $200,000.00 for the rebuild as designed. The spring floods have shown the importance of this culvert, there would be a bed of heavy rock installed, this will assure wildlife won’t be disturbed, this will provide a natural bed body for the wildlife.
Kullgren discussed one option is to do nothing to the road, however that does not mean we will do nothing and leave as is, it would need riprap on the banking, and barriers installed for safety purposes.
Resident, George Rainier asked if it would be considered a culvert or a bridge.
Road Agent, Fox stated it is a concrete culvert, not a beam and plank bridge, by state standards it will be considered a bridge as it will be larger than 10’2”.
Resident, Lynn Wolaver asked if the options were a metal culvert, box culvert or walkway.
Road Agent, Fox replied those could be the options
Resident, Dan Wolaver commented that would enable Fran McMahon to be a neighbor again.
George Rainier asked if there have been any traffic studies done to see what traffic uses Dodge Road.
Lynn Wolaver stated that since they have moved in there is very little traffic.
Road Agent, Fox commented that there is probably more traffic by non-residents.
Discussion continued on the amount of traffic that has used this road.
Fran McMahon stated that it is a short cut for people going to work mostly.
Kullgren stated that from a work perspective, plowing, etc., there are some risks associated with this road being closed with regards to the plowing not being able to be pushed to sides properly.
If we do nothing but put riprap in it is important for fire safety to keep this area with water flowing in the event of an emergency.
Mrs. Wolaver commented that the water could still be accessed; the road won’t be any wider.
Road Agent, Fox explained the road is leading towards and away from the area; he further explained how the emergency trucks need water, and other emergency vehicles would need to be able to get through as well. Fox went on to say that in the past, one-way traffic either way allowed traffic to continue to flow, if it is closed you have to turn around.
Karen asked if there is room for emergency vehicles to turn around.
Duffy said a turn around would need to be on both sides allowing for access on both sides, there is limited space.
Mr. Wolaver is interested in the difference of time it would take to have emergency vehicles getting from town. He discussed that he googled the distance to find it would make only approximately 1 minutes difference. Mr. Wolaver provided the residents that were present with the map he found online.
Duffy explained that if a FEMA designed bridge was installed it would be approximately $200,000.00 to build.
Selectman Adams explained that replacing a culvert in kind is an option, but in doing that it would disallow any future FEMA funding for the repair of the culvert if it were to wash out again.
Resident, Fran McMahon commented that if this was replaced with a standard culvert, he doesn’t see it working and believes there would be another blow out eventually.
Duffy stated to do an in kind replacement of the culvert that did wash out would be approximately $60,000.00. He continued to say, that after having an engineered design done, the engineers determined the best option for the Town would be the $200,000.00 bridge. This shows FEMA we are being pro-active, rather than re-active.
Adams stated he wanted to know how the residents on Dodge Road feel about the bridge being out. He is looking for feedback.
Patrick Foy stated that he appreciates the reduction of traffic, but not having a way out does present some concern.
Mr. Wolaver commented that the road being closed has only made a difference of 5 minutes when going to Wilton. They then found Birdsall Road, which has made the trip to Wilton/Milford the same time as when the bridge was up and running.
Lucy Nichols commented that she likes having the road closed. She has small children, dogs etc., and a lot of the traffic is commuters. She likes the road closed, feeling it has improved the quality of life for her and her children. She did her own informal poll and determined that there are two farmers who indicated the bridge being out is a hardship for them during hay season. As far as the recreational users, horse people, dog walkers, joggers etc. they would like a footbridge to be able to get over the river. In terms of getting out, its not a concern to her, she indicated she likes the privacy and that is why she moved to the country. She further stated that she commends Duffy for his good work on the road; if bridge were not fixed she would like to see the road maintenance continue.
Pam Jordan stated that she loves not having anyone one the road.
Kullgren stated 5 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot, but it can be a matter of life or death, this will affect people for years to come, not just those living there at this time.
Mr. McMahon stated he is concerned about the emergency access. He doesn’t care either way if it is opened or not. Due to being able to get through is convenient but he agrees, there could be safety issues.
Duffy discussed the snow plowing concerns the road crew has with the road being closed.
Lucy Nichols stated that she wants to add a little more comment; she reiterates the balancing is a better quality of life vs. probability of needing emergency vehicles; she lives in the country for a reason.
Mrs. Wolaver asked if the town could afford to fix this bridge?
Adams stated that’s probably the big rub, and would we be going with FEMA recommendations knowing they most likely will not provide relief if we don’t.
Duffy added that in normal situations there is bridge aid, but due to the problems in Alstead and other communities these funds won’t be available for 6-8 years.
Adams stated another glitch is this bridge was condemned by the Dept. of Transportation before the April flooding; FEMA would only compensate us for gravel washed away because the bridge was closed.
Mrs. Wolaver asked Duffy to explain how the bridge aid works.
Duffy explained why he asked for the most economical means to replace this by the engineers. He further explained if it isn’t built by state qualifications, then the bridge aid won’t support replacing the bridge if it is not built according to FEMA standards.
Lucy Nichols commented that thinking from a policy point of view, keeping heavy traffic on tar and not on the dirt road seems logical.
Duffy continued that the heaviest trucks would have permission to use the road; it wears and tears the road. You cannot keep traffic off Class IV Roads; the drivers have a right to use the roads.
Adams commented that a dirt road is actually easier to maintain than a tar road.
Selectwoman Day stated this is not the only bridge that needs repair, there are several bridges that need to be replaced and/or repaired so this needs to be carefully thought out.
Duffy stated that the bridge on the Fleck Conservation Brook is not in good shape either and needs to have work done on it.
Resident, Maryanne Grant asked who decides what option is taken on this matter.
Kullgren responded by saying that is why the Board held this informational meeting. They are trying to determine what the residents on the road feel, while also taking into consideration statutes, the opinion of the Fire Chief, Road Agent and Police Chief will be taken into consideration when brought before the entire town to decide.
Rainier asked if they are doing this with all the roads and culverts.
Adams stated no.
Kullgren mentioned that the Capital Improvements Plan has a plan, and when this bridge washed out the plan changed.
Resident, Conrad Dumas commented when he sat on the board, they closed the Cavender Road Bridge, the Board also had to contact Hancock; they couldn’t just close the road. Dumas went on to say he is in favor of keeping the road open, money is a resolvable issue, and he is in favor of keeping the community connected.
Mr. Wolaver asked the question “if the Board prepares for a warrant article, how would it be presented if this is a multiple option”.
Selectwoman Day said there would be a variety of warrant articles.
Duffy stated he did not think the State would have funds in the near future for small projects such as this.
George Rainier asked about bonding a few culverts at once.
Kullgren responded by saying at this time we cannot obtain a bond.
Duffy commented to the public that until the hydrology study was received, it was not known that the size culvert would be needed, if it would need to be enlarged or if an in kind replacement would suffice.
George Rainier asked if East Road ever get their hot top.
Duffy said no due to the fact that there was a $55,000.00 cut in the highway budget last year, that stopped that project, as did the bad spring. There are several roads that need topcoats.
Mrs. Wolaver answered a previous question as to “how many families are affected by this bridge” she said that directly there are 5 families on Dodge Road.
Lucy Nichols said that a walking bridge would suffice for her.
Maryanne Grant asked if that land has potential to be developed.
Lucy Nichols stated not immediately.
Maryanne Grant asked what would the cost be in 2009 to repair this road?
Duffy said he couldn’t guess that at this time. Everyone needs all the roads in town, when growth happens, roads get expanded use and costs increase.
Fran McMahon commented about growth, he went on to say that what has happened on South Francestown Road no one ever thought would happen, that is a good example of how growth can happen and is out of control of the town. As long as there is a buyer out there, development will happen.
Kullgren thanked everyone for coming. With no further business the meeting closed at 6:45 pm.
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