{"id":1782,"date":"2021-01-01T17:05:04","date_gmt":"2021-01-01T22:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/?p=1782"},"modified":"2021-01-01T17:05:08","modified_gmt":"2021-01-01T22:05:08","slug":"sidewalk-upkeep-not-getting-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/norwichobserver.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/01\/sidewalk-upkeep-not-getting-done\/","title":{"rendered":"Sidewalk upkeep: not getting done"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Norwich has $81,000 in its sidewalk designated fund. But, the Town has not done any sidewalk repairs for several years, even though some are in poor condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delay makes repairs more costly. \u201cYou can pay me now or pay me later\u201d is a phrase some of us remember from the FRAM oil filter commercials in the 1970s and 80s<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2017 plan proposed by the DPW called for around $165,000 in sidewalk upkeep over six years. (Discussed below.) None of that work has been done. What’s more, none of that work is penciled in on the proposed capital plan through 2027, except for a stretch of an existing sidewalk along Beaver Meadow Road that is part of a large, $810,000 paving project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be fair, the proposed annual budget for FYE 2022 asks for nearly $9,000 for TRORC to do a sidewalk inventory. Another $20,000 is slated for the Town’s 20% share of an engineering study to extend the Beaver Meadow Road sidewalk to Moore Lane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, under that time frame, 2023 is the earliest that the Town can expect to see repairs begin. It could be longer before the Beaver Meadow sidewalk extension happens, assuming voters approve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we need another sidewalk inventory before beginning repairs? The Norwich sidewalk network totals all of three miles, the DPW crew is experienced, the DPW Head is a professional engineer, and a repair plan exist from 2017. Best of all, the money is there to begin. Why wait?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2017 capital plan for sidewalks <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

In November 2017, then DPW Director Andy Hodgdon outlined a six year plan for sidewalk repair. The memorandum went to Town Manager Herb Durfee. It was also included in the packet for the December 6, 2017 Selectboard meeting<\/a>, starting at page 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a brief summary of the proposed plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2017\/2018 (Fire District sidewalks)<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n