HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-03-27-SSDAC-rpt.pdf REPORT OF
COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURES OF
STREET AND SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION
PURPOSE
To enable the town to more properly meet the needs of its citizens for
an adequate street and sidewalk reconstruction program
To enable citizens to better understand the street and sidewalk recon-
struction program
To enable those citizens who are directly affected by street and sidewalk
construction through the physical improvements to their neighborhoods and
by the burden of additional improvements and betterments taxes, thereon,
to have a more direct voice before the actual contracts are awarded and
the reconstruction undertaken
To establish a more realistic annual Capital Expenditures Budget
To make better use of the Engineering Services and Engineering
Department and the annual expenditures therein
To provide for a more rapid acceptance of new streets, thereby allowing
for better care and maintenance of the town, which will in turn prevent
more costly reconstruction at a later date
Revised 3/27/71
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PLAN•
PHASE J PUBLISH STREET AND SIDEWALK LIST;
HOLD PRELIMINARY JUNE HEARING
In the Spring the Selectmen will decide on the list of streets and sidewalks
to be considered for reconstruction, publish the names of these streets and
sidewalks, and set dates in June for preliminary hearings for all interested
citizens The purpose of these preliminary hearings will be to obtain in-
formation from interested parties regarding need for improvements and sug-
gested major design features Information as to probable design will be
provided by the Town Engineer to the extent such information can be made
available without special surveys or detailed plans
PHASE II PREPARATION OF PRELIMINARY PLANS
During the summer months the Town Engineering Department will prepare pre-
liminary plans based on a current field survey of the streets and sidewalks
to be reconstructed The design will take into account the aesthetic as
well as engineering problems, including proposed tree planting and land-
scaping Design criteria will be flexible and may include sidewalk and
slope easements to preserve natural features, varying width of streets,
sidewalks, and grassed areas, etc consistent with safety and good engi-
neering practice
PHASE III FALL HEARING ON PRELIMINARY PLANS
In the fall , there will be public hearings based on the completed prelimin-
ary plans No later than one week before the Fall Hearings the proposed
streets or sidewalks to be reconstructed will be staked out with orange
markers in the ground and markers on those trees recommended for removal
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PHASE IV REVISION OF LIST
On the basis of those hearings the Board of Selectmen will determine which
projects are to be included for recommended Town Meeting action, and will
establish the general design criteria for such projects
PHASE V PREPARATION OF FINAL PLANS TOWN MEETING ACTION
Based on the Fall Hearings and the established design criteria, final con-
struction plans will be prepared When completed the plans will be submitted
to the Board of Selectmen for preparation of an article for the appropriation
of construction money by the Town Meeting Detailed cost estimates will be
made or, if possible, bids will be taken prior to the Town Meeting, so that
the exact amount of funds required can be determined
IMPLEMENTATION
I Declare a moratorium on the usual annual street and sidewalk construction
program, except for those sidewalks essential for the safety of school
children
2 The 1971 Town Meeting should have an article specifically allocating funds
for the design and engineering of streets and sidewalks proposed for recon-
struction A similar article should be repeated annually based on a projected
long-range program for street and sidewalk reconstruction
3 The plan should be put in operation for actual construction monies to be
appropriated by the 1972 Town Meeting and annually thereafter
4 Construction monies to be appropriated should include sums required for
tree planting and landscaping, as proposed in the final plans prepared in
Phase V of the plan
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5 There should be appointed a three member Citizen Advisory Board to act
as a liaison between the Engineering Department and the property owners
and citizens involved during the design phases of the plan