Claremont
The money is from the state’s revenue stabilization account and must be used for road and bridge repair as defined by state law.
Claremont City Manager Ryan McNutt said on Tuesday that he is just beginning to look at the grant and how it might be used.
“I will sit down with the public works director (Scott Sweet) to discuss the details,” McNutt said. “I want the city to get the most bang for the money.”
Assistant Public Works Director Vic St. Pierre said it could be used for “grinding and repaving.” One possibility St. Pierre mentioned is paving an entire street where the water department has replaced service lines and connections in the system that contained lead. Repaving the street rather than just patching the holes would be more economical and efficient, St. Pierre said.
During budget discussion this spring, councilors were concerned there was no money in the new municipal budget for paving, which was the recommendation of McNutt to hold the line on taxes. Some councilors say if paving does not resume soon, the condition of the roads will deteriorate to the point a bond will be needed to catch up, which was done a few years ago.
The amount each community receives is based on a formula in state law.
Amounts other Upper Valley towns will receive include: Canaan, $135,400; Charlestown, $134,000; Cornish, $85,300; Enfield, $122,000; Hanover, $248,000; Lebanon, $273,000; Newport, $154,000; and Plainfield, $99,300.
The apportionment formula is based 50 percent on population and 50 percent on the miles of road for which a community is responsible, said Bill Watson, planning and community assistance administrator with the state Department of Transportation. Towns and cities normally receive 12 percent of DOT revenue each year and the additional grants roughly double that percentage, Watson added.
Watson also said that the legislation authorizing the grants was written to exempt towns from having to gain voter approval to spend the money, which normally is the case under the town form of government.
The Selectboard or governing body can vote on how the money will be spent after holding a public hearing, Watson said.
In Newport, Town Manager Hunter Rieseberg said he will ask staff to prepare a list of work to be presented to the Selectboard.
“I think we have a considerable list of projects that could be well served with this money,” Rieseberg said
As to whether the work will be done this year, Rieseberg said that is uncertain because the construction season is half over and contractors have most of their work lined up. If not this year, the money can be encumbered for work next spring, he said.
Enfield Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth also said the town is in the process of reviewing projects to see what would be the best use of the money. Aylesworth has spoken with his public works director but no decisions have been made.
“We will bring it up for discussion with the Selectboard,” he said.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
