2001 JUN-DEC-BOARD OF SELECTMEN - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Board of Selectmen Minutes June 11, 2001 APPOINTMENTS AND HEARINGS: Public Hearing—Road Takings—Algonquin Avenue: Selectman Cahalane opened the Public Hearing on the conversion of the private roads referenced in the memorandum of May 8, 2001 referred to as the Algonquin Avenue John's Pond Road conversion project. The Selectmen advised those present of the estimated cost of the roadway acceptance to be borne by the abutting property owners. The proposed betterment assessment as prepared by the Director of Public Works presented the following cost estimate: Construction $1,236,500.00 Temporary Borrowing $ 49,460.00 Legal Costs $ 15,000.00 Total Cost Estimate: $1,300,960.00 Based upon the total cost and the number of property owner's (242),the estimated betterment assessment is approximately$5,400.00 Selectman Cahalane opened the hearing to solicit comment. Approximately sixty area residents were present to review the proposal. Many voiced objection. Greg Taylor, Director of Public Works was in attendance for discussion purposes. Input from the public included comments from Robert Neisalm in opposition to the referenced proposal. He asked the Board if the residents would lose their deeded beach rights with the conversion process. Mr. Neisalm also made note of additional roads not included in the betterment assessment. He also asked if the Southport community in mitigation would contribute to the conversion to ease the residential burden. It was noted that many of the area roads are narrow. Mr. Taylor explained that the process is an easement taking and not a land taking. In order to maintain the roads it would be necessary to make drainage improvements. He noted that a standard road is 22' wide with a burm. There would be no major change in the present width of the area roads, and all of the area roads could be included in the project proposal.