WASHINGTON PLANNING BOARD
Town Center Vision Subcommittee – Working Meeting Minutes
October 28, 2019
Members Present: Bert Bodnar, Jim Crandall, Lolly Gilbert, Andrew Hatch, Ron Jager, Kevin Provenchar
Also attending: Guy Eaton and Steve Hanssen from Parks and Recreation and Ed Thayer, Public Works Director
The meeting began with acceptance of the minutes of the previous meeting as they had been sent out by Nan Schwartz – no additions or corrections noted.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Jim Crandall reported on the meeting he and Kevin had arranged with Ed Thayer and representatives from the Department of Transportation to discuss walkways/crosswalks in the town center between the Parking Lot opposite the Library and the store and, across Main Street, from the Library to the Meeting House. The goal was to see what might be done to improve walkways at the time the State would be repaving Rte. 31 (scheduled for next spring). John Kallfelz and Kevin Belanger from the DOT had attended the meeting.
In summary: the Town and the DOT are on the same page and agree that the existing shoulder on each side of the road can be graded and paved, creating a walkway. The Town will supply the labor and equipment for this work; DOT will provide the grading and paving materials. Drainage on both sides of the road will be improved; abutters are aware of and in agreement with these changes.
At this point, a crosswalk between the parking lot and the library is not feasible (or safe) because there are not clear sightlines between the library and the lot. If the owners of the old Cilley property could cut back on hill at the library edge of this property, it might improve the sightline, but, for now pedestrians are safer because they know the crossing can be hazardous and take precautions to look for oncoming traffic. Andrew brought up the light that Antrim has installed that encourages vehicles to slow down as they enter that town. Ed said it was an option we might want to consider. Andrew will talk to Antrim personnel and find out the details (and costs) of what they have done.
Ed pointed out that before work can be done on the Library side of the road, there needs to be clear plans on what is being proposed for access to parking behind the Meeting House so that drainage and catch basin plans are done once. The current catch basin may need to be relocated. New access to the parking area also has to be approved by the DOT and will involve restructuring the existing Town Common.
2. Nan had invited members of Parks and Recreation to attend this meeting to share their ideas and plans for the Town Common and have input on ideas we have been discussing.
Steve Hanssen and Guy Eaton spoke about that committeeÕs plans to refurbish the playground equipment and to place a bench by the Civil War memorial. They also spoke about discussions theyÕve been having about adding additional benches to the common (and to the playground), about the existing (but not usable) basketball hoop, and about adding a pickle ball court – either behind the town hall or in the recreation area by the school. (Ed did a Google search and found that a pickle ball court is 20Õ by 44.Õ)
Ed noted that a paved pickle ball court could also be used for a basketball court and, additionally, could be a pad for a helicopter landing.
Our committee and Parks and Rec will continue to be in touch and keep each other aware of suggestions and plans both are discussing.
3. Landscaping/Parking – Andrew said that NoahÕs work needs to be in two parts. Part 1. Is the planning stage, for which the Planning Board has funds; Part 2. Implementation—will need to be brought to Town Meeting for funding.
Discussion ensued, relating to access to the parking area, and the need to have plans in place enough so that we can write a warrant article and bring this as a funding article to Town Meeting. Jim Crandall will talk with Noah about his talking with Ed Thayer about what is possible (access, road placement, snow removal/maintenance of what is planned).
4. Town Pound. Bert asked Ed about the work that had been done in cleaning up the site. Ed reported that Mrs. Tremarco was present when the work was done and is very satisfied. The town will be planting a birch tree to one side of the site (moving it from another location on their property, and that Mrs. Tremarco plans to plant some flowers alomg the other side of the site. Ed will put a jersey barrier to prevent the site being filled in again during snow plowing.
Ron brought proposed wording for a plaque he would like to see placed at the site, giving a brief history of the pound. We did not discuss this plaque wording or placement and should do so at a future meeting.
NEW BUSINESS -- None
Next Meeting: November 18th at 9:00 a.m.
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura-Jean Gilbert. Acting secretary