RSS 2.0 FeedNovember 11, 2010, Freeport-Baldwin Leader
Road repair issues occupy Freeport village board
Concerns about which roads should get repaired first are raised.
As Monday’s board meeting drew to a close, Mayor Andrew Hardwick stated that, at the trustees’ next meeting on November 22, the date would be announced for the drawing to determine which streets would qualify for repairs under the recently awarded $1 million state grant.
This brought a response from Trustee William White Jr., who said he opposed holding a drawing because selecting which streets would be eligible for repair is the responsibility of the Department of Public Works, the engineering department, and the board as a whole.
He urged the mayor to “try to add funds to come up with a suitable road repair plan” and that a capital plan should be developed.
“We’re the ones who have to make the hard decisions,” said Mr. White.
The mayor then polled the other trustees.
“I have to agree with Mr. White,” said Trustee Jorge Martinez. “We have to repair the worst roads.”
But Mayor Hardwick countered that “there are multiple roads in the same category in need of repair.”
When Mr. White suggested part of the repairs be financed through bonds, the mayor replied, “We’re not going into borrowing.”
Trustee Robert Kennedy asked that a list of the roads needing repair and their condition be given to the board.
“Many roads have infrastructure problems,” said Trustee Carmen Pineyro. She recommended categorizing roads according to the degree of seriousness of their infrastructure, which includes sewer lines and other problems beyond simple repaving.
According to Director of Public Works Scott Richardson, infrastructure problems are not to be considered when using the initial $1 million grant, which is part of the $5 million the state Department of Transportation (DOT) will provide to the village over the next five years. He said about 10 roads are in the first group submitted for funding.
The public drawing would determine which of the streets would receive priority funding.
The mayor and trustees plan to meet this week with Mr. Richardson to discuss the repair situation in greater detail.
Under their regular agenda, trustees amended traffic regulations to raise the fines in 19 categories, including parking in loading zones, unauthorized parking, weight limitations for commercial truck parking, parallel parking on Sunrise Highway and others.
Deputy Village Attorney Jackson Barrington said the action was needed “to provide consistency in the fines” and that it was “not intended to be an across-the-board increase.”
He said the step was necessary in order to prepare to make the transition to the use of electronic ticketing machines and use of a boot for traffic offenders.
But audience member Stephen Malone, a former deputy village attorney, spoke against the action, stating its purpose was “revenue enhancement.”
He said there were still inconsistencies in the new proposal and suggested the board table the issue.
It passed unanimously.
In other actions, trustees:
• Approved $14,687 for sidewalk repairs at locations on Atlantic, Guy Lombardo, Hudson and Miller Avenues.
• Awarded a $39,446 contract or a commercial pool chemical for Freeport village pools to Commercial Clearwater of Plandome.
• Authorized the purchase of two Chevrolet Impalas for the Electric Utility for $18,193 each to replace to older model vehicles.
• Amended traffic regulations to prohibit left turns on South Main Street near Atlantic Avenue; and to prohibit stopping or standing on the southwest side of Main Street for 118 feet from Atlantic Avenue south.
Trustees adjourned to executive session.
Please login to post your comments.
