The New Milford Town Council, after asking the Public Works Department for details of the road's condition and the proposed corrective measures at its regular meeting Aug. 10, unanimously agreed to authorize an interdepartmental transfer so that money from a department bridge account could go toward the emergency repairs.
Public Works is expected to provide the council with plans for the project at a later date.
Michael Zarba, the depart­ment's director, noted that an accident that occurred there during the winter, when a vehicle hit a stump, caused a shift in the roadway, which has led to a serious safety issue.
Michael Pryor, the chief of the Gaylordsville Volunteer Fire Department, told the council during the public comment portion of the meeting, "The road does need to be fixed. We have to hug one side-it definitely is a safety hazard."
Roger Szendy, the council's vice president, said he is familiar with the road, which now has virtually one operational lane, and noted that its condition has not been good for many years.
"When I used to plow this road 20 years ago, it was dangerous then-it's not very wide," he said, adding that he thought the drop-off in the dangerous stretch currently at issue was as deep as 20 feet.
The department proposed moving it a maximum of 10 feet to the north, which would necessitate a slight taking, about seven-tenths of an acre, of the Reed property. Mr. Zarba noted that the property owner, who would be paid by the town for the purchase of a right of way, understands the situation and has not opposed this.
The proposal, which the council and department favored, would include the installation of a precast concrete block retaining wall.
There was, however, another but less desirous alternative, Mr. Zarba had told them. That option would require "a whole lot more stabilization downhill ... [but] we don't own a lot of rights of way there and it ends in wetlands," he said.
Mr. Zarba said that his department did not have enough money for the project, which was estimated to cost $209,000.
He said that the town's director of finance, Ray Jankowski, had indicated that $375,000 is available in the department's bridge account, for as-yet unspecified work on two bridges, and requested a transfer of funds.
The Public Works Department had planned to replace the bridge short of Riverview and Station roads as well as another bridge at some future time.
Danbury resident Susan Tuz, speaking on behalf of her mother, Helen Tuz, who lives in Gaylordsville, had told the council earlier during the public comment part of the meeting that the road "is collapsing: and urged the council "to take into consideration that the bridge is in bad condition" as well, noting that her mother "drives over it" regularly.
In response to council member Bob Guendelsberger's question as to whether the money would be returned to the bridge account next year, Mr. Zarba said, "Yes, it's still a priority."
The department would be doing the prep work for the project and laying the asphalt, but the majority of work would be undertaken by an outside contractor.
"If this is approved tonight, we would like to get the borings done [and get the project] out to bid in three to four weeks," said Mr. Zarba, who estimated that the construction would could begin in the fall.
"This needs to be done quickly ... late September or early October at the latest," said Mr. Zarba, who was joined by Town Engineer Tom Sprong in presenting the matter to the Town Council.
In the meantime, at Mr. Guendelsberger's recommen­dation, signage would be installed to let travelers know about the legal road closure.
In other business, the council unanimously authorized a seven-member temporary committee be established to continue the restoration and other efforts regarding the old Northville one-room schoolhouse.
Harvest Street Festival
It also unanimously approved a request from the Village Center Organization to close down Bank Street in the center of New Milford Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., so that a Harvest Street Festival could be celebrated downtown. The street would become a pedestrian walkway during those hours, which also would allow for setting up and cleaning up.
"If I had my way, Bank Street would be a pedestrian mall 18 hours a day ... [and] just open to truck deliveries" afterward.
"I wouldn't mind seeing it on a weekend," Mr. Szendy commented.
Hazardous Waste Day
In addition, the council unanimously agreed to authorize Mayor Patricia Murphy to enter into a contract-along with the towns of Brookfield, Sherman, Warren and Washington-with MXI Environmental Services, Inc., for a household hazardous waste collection day in New Milford, to be held Sept. 19.
It also agreed to accept an $11,214 grant from NorthEast S.A.R.E. to be used by the town's economic development office to study the feasibility of creating a regional local-produce distribution facility in New Milford.
"The grant would provide research," said Vin Nolan, the town's economic development supervisor.
Mr. Guendelsberger wanted to know why a consultant would be needed.
"One thing it would help determine is how much to grow and what the market would be," said the mayor.
Council member Joe Failla said that such a distribution center "would help sustain farmers in this area."
Harris Hill Farm
The Town Council, after going into executive session, agreed unanimously to have the town attorney take money from the extra legal account and hire a state-approved appraiser to provide an estimate of the current value of Harris Hill Farm in New Milford.
According to a recent survey undertaken on behalf of the committee working on updating the town's plan of conservation and development, many residents favor the town's preservation of farmland.