Topsham Selectmen will consider tonight a plan to address erosion along Pleasant Point Road following the October wind storm.
In a memo, Public Works Director Dennis Cox said the bank supporting the road is being eroded by winds and the current along the Merrymeeting Bay shoreline.
“It has been going on sometime now, but because of the wind storm in late October, the erosion volume that occurred was tremendous,” Cox wrote.
The worst areas may be stabilized with large rocks and fabric. Several large tree stumps may also have to be removed.
Cox is recommending the town go with a low bid of $35,000 by Barton Construction for stump removal and road stabilization, and wants to get the work started as soon as possible.
Other business
• The board will also consider taking action on the bid for the proposed public works storage building. Public Works has $180,000 in a capital account to construct a storage building on its property to replace the old storage space in the former fire station, which is slated for demolition.
The town requested proposals for a 50-foot-by-50-foot storage building with three overhead doors that would have electricity but no heat. Three bids were received on time ranging from $175,520 to $363,098. Cox recommends the board approve the low bid.
• Town Manager Rich Roedner wants to allow town staff to contact the Maine Department of Transportation to look at speeds on Middlesex Road and determine if the road is “appropriately regulated, or whether adjustments to the speed limit are warranted,” according to a memo.
Roedner received a call from an elderly resident on Middlesex Road near Loop Road about traffic speed, vehicles crossing on double lines “and generally poor behavior by the motoring public.”
According to Roedner, this location is near where the speed limit changes. He has made the police aware of the complaint and they will install speed and radar units, and will work to increase their presence in the area.
Selectmen will also hear a summary on traffic enforcement done by police between Aug. 31 and Nov. 11, with a focus on speeding violations. In that time period, 56 speed-related citations and 227 warnings were issued.
• The board will also hear a proposal from Roedner on investment options for the town.
The meeting will take place 7 p.m. at the municipal building at 100 Main St.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less