By Pattie Pacella, Neighb News Correspondent
The Acushnet Selectboard held a Public Hearing on the proposed sewer line extension on Main Street and parts of Wamsutta Avenue at its meeting on 9/19. Board of Health agent Joseph Correia attended to give an overview of the project.
He stated that the project came about from an emergency at 225 Main Street (also known to residents as the “doll-house”) and as they looked at that area more carefully there seemed to be other lots and homes that could possibly be tied in to the sewer line.
Mr. Correia explained that he and Dan Menard from the DPW reviewed the project and decided to do the work in-house so that it would be cost efficient to the residents.
With approximately eight to ten residents at the meeting, Chairperson Kevin Gaspar stated it was important to him that the Selectboard hear directly from the residents that will be affected.
He also stated that a local newspaper quoted him incorrectly from the last meeting in stating what the cost would be and he wanted to make it clear that they are still in the stages of figuring what the cost to each resident affected would be.
Mr. Gaspar said that there would be a betterment fee to at least the 15 houses that would be affected. But he also made it clear that if the project hit a lot of ledge during the process of laying the pipe, that he would request that the project be shut down immediately.
“We need to be very careful with this project,” Mr. Gaspar said. “If problems were to arise, we would stop it immediately, cap it off and not go any further.”
Mr. Menard said he would like to try and get to work on the project this season.
“So within the next two to three weeks,” he said.
Mr. Gaspar explained the line goes down approximately eight feet and the tie-in would be the homeowner’s responsibility from curb side into the home.
Selectboard member Roger Cabral said that “in general, this is a good thing.”
Mr. Cabral said he realized that it is an easy thing for him to say because he was not spending the money, however it should improve the affected properties.
“I see this as a good thing,” he reiterated.
In a consensus of residents just speaking out or under their breaths, those that did say something nodded their heads in agreement when asked if they were in favor of the project.
The Selectboard then made a motion to approve to allow the DPW to plan the extension from 225 Main Street to Wamsutta Avenue and report back within the next few weeks.
In another matter, the board agreed to hold their next meeting on Tuesday, October 3rd at 7:00 p.m., a later time for residents who could not make a 5:00 o’clock meeting.
In other business, Mr. Gaspar made a request for a speed limit sign to be placed at the corner of South Main Street, near the Acushnet Town Hall. Mr. Gaspar said he had heard from quite a few residents over the last few weeks about the speed on South Main Street, and then he and Mr. Menard noticed there was not a speed limit sign where there was supposed to be one. The sign was put up at 30 mph as detailed in the State’s outline of South Main Street since the street is in fact a state road.
Mr. Gaspar requested that the Board put in a request to the state to review South Main Street and its speed limits, based on half a mile down the street the speed limit increases to 40 miles per hour.
The board voted to notify the state of a review of South Main Street speed limits and for the Board to share their concerns with them.
In the Town Administrator’s report, Mr. Noble announced that Lt. Governor Polito wanted to meet with the board on October 3, at 11:30 a.m.* to sign the Community Compact Grants.
*Fixes error (11:30, not noon) from previous versions.
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