All towns · gorham

Town of Gorham, NH: Main Street Pedestrian Improvements Project Public Hearing 5/11/2026

Video

Okay.
Hello, everybody.
Nice to see you. Thank you for coming
out.
So, I'm going to open the public hearing
at Where's the clock?
>> It's uh 6:10.
>> 6:10 and um be having a presentation by
Eric Grenier from AGB about what's going
to happen with the sidewalks. And after
he's done his presentation, I I will
open up the meeting to public comments
and questions.
If you could keep them to 10 minutes 2
minutes or less. No, not 10 minutes.
2 minutes or less that would be very
much appreciated. I don't want to have
to stop anybody in mid-sentence. So
Here we go.
>> Well, Judy, if you don't mind, I I just
wanted to step in and
make sure we have a focus cuz we have
like uh Caitlyn Sam, we have Eric.
They're all from AGB. They're all highly
trained professionals, very extensive.
Um
So this meeting as it was posted
um and legally required, it's for
pedestrian improvements
on Main Street which we're all going to
get into. I know there's been a lot of
interest about the snowmobiles and that
is certainly something the town values
and wants to
talk about. Um
but it can't be the focus because
sidewalks, you know, motorized things,
sidewalks, you know, aren't for ATVs and
uh dirt bikes and motorcycles and and
other sorts of things. But we have heard
directly and indirectly there are
concerns. And
and I don't know I know Judy has thought
a lot about this as well as the board.
If you just want to just briefly state
kind of what
you're thinking
as far as
Uh we have one more selectman coming in.
There he is.
Um
just so we can get that taken care of.
>> The um
the thinking was we talked about this
about a year and a half ago.
We
either um
keep it open or
like that.
>> Can't hear you, can't hear you back
>> Oh.
>> okay.
So
>> Where is Mike?
>> A year and a half ago, 2 2 years, we had
a meeting with the um
with the business owners,
the business owners, the snowmobile
club, the state, and the town.
>> At the TNC.
>> At the TNC.
And we discussed the issue of
snowmobiles
at the time, and I had suggested at the
time
that um
we had plenty of time to work on a
solution for this issue.
And I had suggested that a committee be
formed with all of these entities
um
being part of the committee, and since
then I've heard nothing. So, what I want
to do is again suggest that a a
committee be formed with representation
from the snowmobile club, the business
owners, the town,
and uh the state. We had um fish and
game there, and they had some good
ideas, and um so
with that being said, I think Bob would
like to um
be on that committee along with John
Beezhu.
>> Yeah.
>> There he is.
>> Oh, there you are.
So, uh if Bob wants to say a few words
about that.
>> Hi everybody. So, uh for all of the men
of Noble, I'm Bob Ardana, uh one of the
selectmen. And I thought it was very
important that we um
that we uh put a committee together
to specifically get the involvement of
community, which is which includes
obviously our taxpayers and our business
owners. It's very important that we
support our business owners and our
community, and uh find out what we need
to do to help everybody out to make this
option, you know, viable.
It's never going to be 100%.
If we can get to if we can get to 80
an 80% solution, I think that would
work. But, it's not a one-person
decision. In order to make that happen,
we need the support and the feedback
of our local local restaurants,
convenience stores, gas stations,
as well as whatever residents, you know,
we have that may or may not be impacted,
but we need everybody to find some
common ground to start building it a
solution. And the only way it's really
going to happen is with community input
along with our businesses because we
really need to support our businesses
because they are so dependent on the
snowmobile traffic. But, also be aware
I appreciate that. And also be, you
know, also be aware of the
the impact they have on on our
taxpayers.
And not all of the taxpayers are are
OHRV or snowmobile enthusiasts. So, they
have a voice as well. We need to be
sensitive to that, open to that, and and
hear what they have to say in the hopes
of finding some common ground
and now they're part of the solution and
everybody takes ownership
of a solution so we can move forward in
the hopes of,
you know, prospering local local
businesses and bolstering the the needs
of our community.
Hope I said that appropriately and made
a little bit of sense.
Um does anybody have any questions for
me if the chair
>> Um
Based on what Bob said, that we're not
going to please everybody 100%, but we'd
like to try and get there.
Um
What uh
It just went right out.
In and out.
But, anyways,
a a committee that represents everybody
is um
they may come to a conclusion where
there might be a little bit of
inconvenience on both sides.
And that's what we like to try and keep
it at is an inconvenience, not a major
problem.
So, getting you know, getting this
committee together is crucial
to solve the problem.
>> And our last one before I let Eric take
off,
um I I know the town is committed, you
know, the East Field Snowmobile Club. If
the
um
Presque Isle Trail Riders, another club,
wanted to have a snowmobile fest
weekend,
you know, get a permit and we'll make a
snow road. You know, it's a long
weekend, a great time to do that. Great
snow road, great
permit.
The town has no issues with that.
With
the the the danger of
getting too much crossed in connection
with this sidewalk project and
discussions about snowmobiles
is that this is a $1.6 million
construction project
with a you know, $100,000 plus dollars
of engineering.
And
DOT and where this is a pedestrian it's
a grant. It's all for pedestrian so it's
a multi-use trail.
And if we all of a sudden if the town
said, "Oh, yeah, you convinced us. You
can keep using the snowmobiles."
Thank you uh federal government,
taxpayers, and DOT for
giving us a pedestrian sidewalk, which
we intend,
you know, to to use for snowmobiles
all throughout the season.
That is
would not be good.
And we jeopardize perhaps
losing that 1.6 million. And in order in
the future, we would be known as the
community that you don't get money don't
give them that million dollar project.
Don't because
they violated the agreement. It's like
if we had land for wellhead protection,
but then people say, "We've always gone
out there and had bonfires and had did
dirt bike races." Well, it's wellhead
protection now. You know, we can't do
the dirt bike race, you know, across,
you know, the wellhead protection zone.
And if we did, then that would that
would be a big big problem with beyond
Lee Terrell being upset.
Um it would be a problem there. But
yeah, put put my name
>> I just wanted to say that
in 2010 there was a study done on the
economic
uh
snowmobile economy.
>> Yeah.
>> State grossed $583 million a year from
that.
>> Mhm.
>> So, I don't think that they're against
snowmobiling.
>> No, no, no, no.
>> With that type of income, in fact, I
don't even think they probably could
have afforded a grant of this size if
they didn't have this type of income.
>> Yeah.
>> So,
I believe that they're in full support
of snowmobiles
running through the towns
to earn this sort of income for them.
>> So that they can get
>> grants like this.
So, it's it's sort of a give and take.
>> Oh, and and as a compromise there
>> And when we when you mention that uh
>> Peter.
>> You know,
>> Do you want to save this for public
comment? So that
>> I I could address it maybe real quick
cuz he raised a good point and then I
promise we'll do it there.
>> All right. Yeah, he asked if if there
was any questions and no one ever got a
chance to raise their hand.
>> Okay.
I just I didn't hear your part.
>> So, I don't I don't see how the state
could turn around and tell you that you
didn't follow the rules
and they're going to take away your
grants
when the grants come from money
provided by snowmobile.
And I'm talking 16 years ago they made
$586 million
on snowmobiles. So,
I I'd like to see the documents that
tell me
that the state has certain restrictions
to allow you to have this grant.
And is there any
>> Yes. So, the quick short answer is this
is a pedestrian like non-motorized
sidewalk.
>> Oh, it does say non-motorized?
>> Yeah, you can't you can't have a
four-wheeler on the sidewalk.
>> Oh, it says no four-wheelers.
>> Well, this is the federal money is for a
pedestrian side It's not a multi-use
multi-use trails.
>> Okay.
>> You know, they're hiking, biking, and
ATV, and all that. Um so, as the DOT
quickly explains to me,
somebody in a wheelchair or somebody
who's elderly has the expectation to be
able to walk on a sidewalk.
And then when they slip or get hurt
because of the snow not like you all,
but somebody from away is is uh
acts inappropriately, then all of a
sudden
um somebody has an injury.
My grandmother got hit by a snowmobile
or had to jump in a snowbank or slip
because of the icy sidewalks. Well, you
how come you aren't maintaining the
sidewalks? Well, they have to be snowy.
Then the town has liability.
And our insurance company won't cover it
because
we let people drive mechanized devices
on a pedestrian sidewalk where a
pedestrian should be able to think I can
walk down this without dodging a
snowmobile.
So,
>> It's been going on for much longer than
that.
>> I've been alive 40 years.
>> Oh, sure. Yeah.
Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> And and I've never heard any complaints.
Um
Well, maybe I have heard a few.
But, you know what it is? There's no
signs of the issue. I think the town is
Judy said is trying to make this
uh a successful win-win
for everybody.
And there isn't going to be any change
today, tonight. Um
And and with that one of us deferred to
>> You're you're you're the DOT specialist
and I deal with that every day.
>> Is there that specific Well, you were in
the same meetings I was. With that
saying
that that's no no good, that you can't
do that.
>> So,
the funding that the town has received
is for the development of pedestrian
>> Yeah.
>> I think the framework for the funding is
in the development of pedestrian
improvements.
We're not developing a snowmobile trail,
but we're developing
sidewalks and pedestrian pedestrian
improvements, crosswalk improvements,
whatever. You know, whatever we end up
landing on, that's what the funding is
to develop.
>> Right.
>> Um so, that's sort of the the premise
behind the funding that the town
received is that it is
for the design and construction of
pedestrian improvements.
>> Yep.
And is is there's going to be a lot of
pedestrian improvements? It's not really
just sidewalks. It's it's lighting, it's
crosswalks, it's redesign. And uh Eric
and his team did a really good job
developing
um some options for you guys to comment
on. Thank you. Sorry.
Eric.
>> All right.
Thanks everybody for coming.
Um
And as it's been mentioned, this is the
second uh public informational meeting
for the Main Street uh pedestrian
improvement project. Um I'm Eric Renner,
HTB Engineers, and I'm I'm by uh Katie
Gillette, um who's going to assist me
tonight.
Um so some frequently used acronyms that
I might
refer to tonight if
uh you know, Federal Highway
Administration is a little bit long.
So these are if I refer to some of these
acronyms,
you know, FHWA refers to the Federal
Highway Administration.
NHDOT
means Department of Transportation.
CDS
Congressionally Directed Spending. That
is where the funding for the project
came from. It was an earmark from
Senator Shaheen's office.
And LPA, Local Public Agencies. That is
the requirements that we are required to
follow um for the design, permitting,
and communication for the project. Um we
have a set of guidelines that we have to
follow as engineers um for the design
and permitting of the project. And LPA
is sort of a
um acronym that gets used for
all the guidelines that we have to
follow
when we're implementing these projects.
Project Administration.
Um so the project is funded by Federal
Highway, but administered through the
Department of Transportation.
It is a 90%
10% share breakdown. So 90% of the costs
are funded
um through the earmark, and 10% uh local
match
is the cost breakdown.
So for every dollar that's spent um on
the project, 90 cents is funded
um by Federal Highway, and then 10% is
from the local match.
Uh tonight we're here to, you know,
provide sort of a general overview of
the various alternatives that we've
developed
um with input
um from the select board um regarding
the improvements to the project. Uh the
goal is after this meeting
um the feedback that we gained tonight
will help the town proceed with uh
settling on a what's called a proposed
action.
So, tonight we're going
sort of lay out the alternatives that we
studied um and get your feedback on
those alternatives. So, nothing is set
in stone uh tonight so to speak.
>> There's going to be granite curbs
though, that is set in stone.
>> That yeah, that is set in stone. That is
set in stone. It is stone.
Uh
the funding does require the town to
follow uh the detailed LPA process. I
mentioned it earlier.
Um those are the requirements that are
set forth that we must follow from the
DOT and ultimately federal highway.
Uh we did help hold a public input
session on September 22nd uh 2025 and
tonight's meeting again is sort of the
next step in the process where that
first meeting we just introduced the
project, kind of clean slate, got some
feedback from from the folks in
attendance, and then
between then and now we worked with the
select board um and that feedback that
we received to develop several
alternatives
um for the project going forward. So,
tonight is sort of that second meeting
where we formally present those
alternatives.
So, just for those who were in
attendance um at the first meeting, this
is a general representation
of the project area that was scoped as
part of the original RFQ.
This doesn't necessarily represent what
the final project area is going to be,
but this is um
a representation of what um
of of what that that area was intended
to be um depending on where we land with
with funding
um as we move forward with the project.
So, essentially, it's from the Route 60
intersection at the Gorham Common to
Route 2 uh intersection
um as you head towards Lancaster.
So, those are the general project limits
uh for this project.
Project background: So, the town
initially received $1.6 million in
earmark for pedestrian improvements
along Main Street. Um and then
additional funds were reallocated to the
project to bring the total project
budget um to 2.4 million. That includes
engineering, construction, things like
right-of-way, all of those all of those
buckets uh form that overall project
budget of 2.4 million.
The federal earmark, as I mentioned, was
awarded through Senator Shaheen's uh
congressionally directed spending
process.
Um the federal earmark is a 90/10 split
with town match at 10% of total eligible
cost, as I mentioned. Um the pedestrian
improvement project is a phase of
town-wide improvements to pedestrian
facilities.
Some of you know, we have a separate
pedestrian improvement project going
along Route 2 uh
towards Lancaster. That is separate from
this project, but sort of in the whole
uh bucket of pedestrian and improvements
uh town-wide.
And as I mentioned, we're required to
follow the detailed federal process,
which is why we are here tonight and
we'll be here um
part of future uh future meetings.
Where are we at now with the project?
So, we are in the engineering study
phase of the project, where we are
gathering the background data, uh things
like preparing existing features plans,
um developing
concepts, and getting feedback from you
folks
where we are at in the project. So,
we're still very early on in the
project, but moving forward with with
the study phase.
We held a meeting on September 22nd, as
I mentioned, and tonight is the public
informational session where we're going
to review the alternatives. After
tonight's meeting, as I mentioned, we
get the feedback, and the town
and HEB will work towards developing a
proposed action,
which will then be held another meeting
where we say, "This is the project that
we are moving forward with."
That will be at a at a separate meeting,
but will encompass all of the feedback
that we've gathered today in the
alternatives that we studied today.
We're hoping to wrap up engineering
study soon,
summer 2026, but you know, following
this meeting, we're hoping to wrap up
engineering study
quickly so we can move on to the next
phase of the project.
The initial public input session,
some of the key takeaways that we
received from feedback
at Fenn Elementary School, crossing
safety. And
similar to to at Fenn Middle High
School,
crossing safety.
US Route 2 and NH 16 inter-intersection
crossing safety, that would be at both
the north end of the project and the
south end of the project. I think one of
the main takeaways was deteriorating
sidewalk conditions.
You know, the sidewalks are are in need
of improvement, ADA compliance issues,
and whatever we implement moving
forward, you know, maintenance is always
a consideration for new infrastructure.
So, we want to make sure that things are
built to last, so to speak.
So, just some representation of existing
conditions within the corridor. I'm sure
a lot of you are familiar with it, but
we have a lot of pedestrian crossings,
crossing side streets, and
and the highway.
We have
existing sidewalk and curb conditions
throughout a lot of the length of the
project. The sidewalks are in our need
of improvements. So, we have
deteriorating sidewalk conditions, some
areas where the curb has either leaned
over or settled.
We want to focus on bringing those
bad infrastructure back up to
compliance.
in the corridor.
Other things we have to consider in the
corridor, we have retaining walls,
some fences.
We have on-street parking, which was
a large consideration for the project
moving forward. You know, what do we do
with on-street parking as it impacts
some of the other alternatives that we
might talk about tonight. We have some
trees you can see that are, you know,
growing within the sidewalk where some
of the roots are starting to or have um
you know, increased the deterioration of
those sidewalks.
Maintenance, as I mentioned, maintenance
is is always a consideration when we
implement infrastructure projects.
Pedestrian safety, you know, it's a
pedestrian improvement project, so
safety is obviously a large
consideration for the project. We have a
lot of intersections, driveway crossings
where some of the the tip downs where
the sidewalk goes back to the
tips down to the to the driveway, some
of those are non-compliant, some are too
steep. Some are in disrepair,
but we have a lot of intersection and
driveway crossings that we have to
manage through the design and
construction process.
Uh pedestrian access
and protection. There are a lot of
businesses along the corridor, so making
sure that, you know, we maintain and
improve access
to the facilities when we're done with
the project. And then, you know, ADA
accessibility is is is a large component
for the project. You know, we have a lot
of crossings, so making sure we have
things like detectable warning plates
and the appropriate tip downs and the
grades for the sidewalks to maintain
accessibility
through the corridor was
a consideration for the project.
Utilities, we have existing drainage. A
lot of the existing drains are located
on the curb line.
Um so that
when we talk about alternatives and
whether we're going to shift curve, move
curve, keep it the same,
you know, drainage and its existing
location and position was
um one of the major utility concerns for
the project. We do have
water and sewer
services and some manholes in the in the
limits of the project, and we do have
quite a few utility poles that are
adjacent to the sidewalk that um
not limit, but they, you know, we have
to consider them when we're positioning
sidewalk, where the sidewalk's going to
go,
you know, cuz those utility poles are,
you know, right adjacent to the
sidewalk.
Schools,
uh there are two schools within the
project area,
you know, the War Memorial High School
and the Ed Fenn Elementary School.
Schools are are are a big component to
the project.
As I mentioned, local businesses,
um a lot of businesses front the
sidewalk, and, you know, there are
considerations that we have to manage
through through the life of the project,
the design, construction, how our
business is going to be impacted
through construction. You know, we've
got to make sure that people can still
access their businesses.
If they're within the project corridor,
sidewalks going to get torn up.
But we have to make sure that you know,
businesses are a large component
to what we're putting forth here for the
project.
So,
you know, those are the main major
considerations that that we had for the
project moving forward.
So, I'm going to get into a couple of
different alternatives. And as I
mentioned, these are alternatives that
we've developed with input from the
board.
And
once we go through the alternatives and
get to the end, we'll be looking for
feedback on things that
you may not like, you know, things that
we should consider moving forward. But
none of these alternatives tonight are
really set in stone. So, like, you know,
the feedback that we get from tonight
and future meetings will help us frame
the project moving forward.
So, alternative number one, I know the
plan looks a little busy.
Um
but alternative number one is a
combination of sidewalk rehabilitation
and sidewalk reconstruction generally
from the Gorham Common
to
Ed Fenn Elementary School on the south
side of the road.
So, what we have to do when developing
these alternatives is we have a project
budget that we cannot exceed
you know, without a prior approval and
and things of that nature. So,
when we develop these alternatives, we
have to try to develop alternatives that
not only fit within the within the
budget, but also
tie into and have logical sort of ending
points um
for for
for obvious reasons, but so alternative
number one is as I mentioned, pink
represents sidewalk rehabilitation
and blue sort of represents
um sidewalk reconstruction. Those blue
areas are areas where we would expect,
you know, curb to be
uh modified or fixed um and areas that
are probably a little bit beyond sort of
an an easy rehabilitation.
Um but essentially we're looking to
maintain sidewalk width, which is
essentially 5 ft wide, which is
includes the curb. So, it's basically a
4 and 1/2 ft wide sidewalk with a 6-in
curb from the face of the curb to the
back of the sidewalk gives you 5 ft.
Uh so, generally maintaining the
existing sidewalk width.
Um try to extend the project as far as
we can within the available budget.
We're looking at paved sidewalks, you
know, similar to what's out there now.
Uh paved sidewalks with granite curb. Um
granite curb will be
required because it's on a state route
that has maintenance and it needs to be
durable for plowing.
Um the paved sidewalks and granite curb
are generally the reconstruction
elements for that. And in areas where
we have identified situations um that
require more reconstruction,
we're either going to reset the granite
curb or propose new granite curb. Um
that's going to be evaluated, but those
areas probably require more
intense uh treatment
um as we progress with the project.
Pedestrian crossing improvements
Um I'll show you some uh
renderings of what we're looking at for
pedestrian improvements, but new
crossing um at Main Street, uh US Route
2 and Main Street 16. Uh some of the
feedback that we received during that
first public input session is you have
to walk pretty much all the way to the
Bourne Common Subway to cross the street
if you're coming from the east side.
Um
so we are evaluating
the addition of a crosswalk um
on the east side of of Route 16.
Um
rapid rectangular flashing beacons, um
with curb extensions at the Bourne
Common is something that we evaluated.
Um I can
go to the picture real quick so we can
get a visual
uh representation. So this
is a rendering of what uh an improved
crossing could look like
um near the Bourne Common.
What we have is
solar uh powered
flashing beacons. You press the button
and the things, you know, flash that
you're crossing the street. Uh the
addition of high visibility crosswalks,
um
lighting uh lighting at the crossings is
needs to be improved in uh both
directions.
Um and then
you know, one of the options that we
looked at was curb extensions.
Uh the benefit of curb extensions are
they keep you out of the traveled way
for longer. They let you get out in
front of the parked cars. You know, this
shoulder is all parked.
Um
so visibility when you're parked next to
the crosswalk is tough for the
pedestrians and the motorists cuz the
pedestrians have to get out sort of
beyond the parked car before they're
seen or before they can see cars coming.
So the addition of curb extensions um
was something that we evaluated to try
to improve pedestrian visibility
and and access to the crosswalks
along with
beacons and lighting improvements.
For middle high school, kind of similar
similar approach.
This is a pretty heavily used crossing
adjacent to the school.
The addition of
flashing beacons,
some lighting improvements
on the south side of the road. This is
an existing utility pole that has right
out already,
but this side currently has no light
to illuminate the crossing.
So, we have evaluated
rapid rectangular flashing beacons and
curb extensions at this location.
And
Ed Fenn crossing improvements, because
this was sort of the
the um
northern terminus, we
didn't propose curb extensions at this
location,
but improve improving the crossing with
the addition of overhead lighting in
advance of the crosswalk and
addition of rapid rectangular flashing
beacons, high visibility crosswalk and
signage.
So, the majority of the options or the
alternatives that we're going to look at
tonight have
budgeted sort of this level of treatment
to them,
but looking to get through this
get back on how people feel about curb
extensions. I know there's you know, not
not always great, but
you know, trying to get some feedback on
those and then some of the other
crossing treatments that were proposed.
All right, let me get back to
alternative one.
As I mentioned, the project limits for
alternative one
are from the NH-16
to Ed Fenn Elementary School. You'll see
as we progress through the alternatives,
really the difference between the
alternatives is where we start, where we
stop.
Is it all one side? Is it try to get as
far as we can on one side?
Is it try to get both sides as far as we
can?
But alternative one is generally focused
on the south side
of the roadway and is currently a
project that
would be what is considered under
budget. So, within the within the
project budget that we currently have in
the district.
So, that would be alternative one.
Alternative two is a rehabilitation
on both sides of the road
from the NH-16 intersection to the
Gorman
Middle High School.
So, both sides of the road
but condensed. So, it doesn't progress
as far as alternative one,
but it does hit both sides of the road
for the length of the project.
This has very similar improvements to
alternative one, you know, maintaining
the existing sidewalk width,
paved drain curb, um
and then the crossing improvements that
we just went through with the with the
renderings. So, alternative two
is both sides of the road
from NH-16
to the Gorman Middle High School.
Alternative three, Uh, uh, should go
back. Alternative two another
alternative that is, you know, under
budget or within the budget uh that we
have for the project.
And alternative three is to try to
maximize
the budget that we have. Basically, you
know,
try to get every dollar that we can and
make the make the project go um as far
as we can
uh to try to impact as many uh
businesses and residences as possible.
Alternative three
is a
uh project that goes from the entrance
16, both sides of the road, to Gorham
Middle High School.
And then on the south side of the road
from the middle high school
up to essentially Union Street.
Um that would encompass
both sides of the road to the high
school and then the south side of the
road
um
to Ed Fenn.
There are no uh
sidewalks on the riverside um up in this
area, so we're not proposing to add any
on that side of the road. So,
essentially, they stop at Mister Pizza
on on that side now.
Uh
So, alternative three, that's that's the
project limit for alternative three.
And then alternative four is
essentially reconstructing the entire
project limit uh on the south side of
the road
from basically intersection state
intersection state intersection.
The issue with this alternative is, as
we'll see in the next couple slides, is
it's over budget. Uh it's over the
budget that we have now. Um
but it it's a very similar alternative.
It, you know, maintains the sidewalk
with paved sidewalk, granite curb,
um includes the pedestrian crossing
improvements uh, that we talked about. A
couple of additional, uh, improvements
that we have proposed, uh, as part of
this alternative is slightly shifting
the crosswalk um
near the White Mountain Cafe, shifting
it northeasterly, I guess westerly,
uh, towards McDonald's and try to get
that into that parking lot there with
the extension and the addition of some
sidewalk in that area there and
realigning that crossing, um, to the
other side of the street.
And then,
um
essentially
maintaining all of the crossings with
improvements, uh
to to Main Street 16. I should mention
that all of the crossing improvements
have lighting proposed where it's
deficient. Some crossing has Some
crossings have lighting on one side of
the road
to begin with.
They should have lights on both sides of
the road in the direction of travel,
um, so these
These improvements includes,
uh, lighting on both sides of the road
at that crosswalk.
The southern half of alternative four is
similar to the alternatives that we
studied before, but essentially, um,
reconstruction,
complete reconstruction of
sidewalk on the south side of the road
only
along with, uh,
crossing crossing improvements that get
you, uh, access to the other side of the
sidewalk.
And these are the
uh, examples that we went through here.
So, alternative analysis,
um, this is sort of a summary of the
different alternatives that that, uh, we
have studied. So, as I mentioned, the
available funding is, you know, 2. 4 2.5
million. Uh total project cost for each
alternative
um includes
uh
contingency and engineering. As I
mentioned, alternative 1 and 2 are under
budget. Um
Alternative 3 is the alternative that
pretty much, you know, maximizes
uh
maximizes the available funding. And
then alternative 4 which does the south
side full depth reconstruction
from Route 16 to Route 2
um at a total project cost of 4.
16 million. 4.16
Uh you can see some of the elements here
that are included in each alternative.
Uh Gorham the Gorham and the high school
crossing improvements are included in
all alternatives.
Um
the Ed Fenn crossing improvements that
we went over
is not currently included in alternative
2
because it doesn't the project doesn't
reach Ed Fenn.
But a stand-alone uh
crossing improvement at Ed Fenn would
likely fit within that budget if we
wanted to
um squeeze that uh improvement into the
project.
And then the crosswalk addition
um on the south side of 16 south of the
common
is included with all the alternatives as
that was one item that came up during
the
uh public input session.
And then
curb extensions
these this budget for alternative 1
includes curb extensions um as well as
alternative 2.
Alternative 3 we did not include curb
extensions because we tried to maximize
how far we could go with the project.
So, we tried to scale back on some of
those
uh improvements that would be either to
extend the project as far as we can.
Uh all alternatives correct the
deficient sidewalk conditions, ADA
compliance. Um
So, all of those alternatives will
um
you know, basically correct the
sidewalk. It will improve the ADA tip
downs. It will um have the proper cross
slope.
Um
You're correcting the deteriorating
sidewalk conditions. So, all
alternatives will address that comment.
Um
and there is all the alternatives have
similar environmental impacts.
Uh we're more or less reconstructing
sidewalks that exist. So, the
environmental and utility and
right-of-way impacts are, you know,
considered to be minor for
for all of these improvements.
So, this is sort of a a summary of the
alternatives.
If you have any other questions, I can
always go back to the slide if there's
anything you want to review.
So, what are the next steps?
Um as I mentioned, we're going to gather
the feedback from tonight's meeting and
the town will take these alternatives
with your feedback and make adjustments
to the alternatives
um or, you know, choose to move forward
with a proposed action, you know, as
it's been presented. And then we have
another
proposed action meeting that will happen
where the proposed action is
um
released or or discussed uh presented
um
what they're probably doing.
Uh as I mentioned, we're in this
engineering study phase. So, we have to
finish the the Once the proposed action
is chosen, we have to finish our side of
the engineering study
um with the alternatives and the
proposed close deliver that to DOT for
review Um
coming up here very soon.
And then, once we receive uh design
approval from DOT, we will progress with
design
of project.
I should note that
you know, all of the alternatives that
we study, we present,
everything that we do has to go to to
DOT for review prior to moving forward
with the next phases of the project.
So, all of the different bureaus of DOT
will have a chance to look at the
project, the Bureau of Traffic,
uh District, and and and all of those
entities that are involved with the
project. It gets circulated through all
those departments. They have an
opportunity to look at the project,
provide comments, and provide input
that we take and move forward with with
the next phases of the project.
>> Tentative project schedule?
>> Uh as I mentioned, engineering study
we're in process, plan to deliver that
here in the next few months.
Uh
the bulk of the design and permitting
will proceed upon approval of
engineering study and be completed
2027.
Um I should note that with the CDS
funding, there is a hard deadline to
complete the project, or at least the
design and the engineering of the
project by September 2027,
which means we have to have all of our
stuff wrapped stuff wrapped up by
August.
So, when we're moving forward with
phases of the project,
um the schedule for the CDS funding um
is an important component, where if we
have alternatives that have major
right-of-way takings or
um you know, things of that nature,
whether they be temporary or permanent
easements,
um we have to balance those
in concert with the schedule of the
funding that was provided to the town.
So, that
schedule I presented here has us
delivering
design for final approval in fall 2027
with
bidding over the winter of 2027 and
construction in 2028.
Um
and then close out the
project time.
The overall project schedule, I think,
you know, right now
planning on construction in summer 2028.
Um
Yeah, likely one construction season
and uh
closing out the project by the end of
winter 2028.
That's all that I have for my
presentation. Yes.
>> Quick question. Can Can you go back to
um option one and two, please?
>> Yes.
>> Just cuz I want to see where they are.
>> Starting then. Yes. Yep.
>> Before Before you do that, Eric,
>> Yep.
>> after you're done, I'm going to open it
up to public comment and um questions.
So, if you could stand up,
come to the podium, identify yourself,
and tell me where you come from. That
would be appreciated. And what I'm going
to do is I'm going to start on this side
of the room to keep it
to keep it moving along and not skipping
anybody. I'll take questions from this
side and then we'll move to this side.
Will that work for you?
It works for me.
Okay.
You had asked your question.
>> Oh, all right. I'm sorry. I thought you
went that way. My bad.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I thought we
were
going that way.
>> I just wanted to set the rules before we
started.
>> Yeah, totally fine with
>> Um all all three that one there.
>> Yes.
>> I can't
>> So the big one ends where is that I
think? This This is Mr. Pizza's parking
lot.
>> So
>> And there's a crosswalk right there at
the end.
>> So from there down is resurfacing Main
Street curve painting
and so on.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. How about number two?
>> Number two is shorter but it's both
sides.
>> Okay. Thanks again.
>> So number two they both all projects
generally start the same spot.
I guess you know, reading right to the
left. They all generally start at the
main entrance 16
U2 intersection. Alternative
one goes to the elementary school
crosswalk. Alternative two
both sides of the road
to the Gorman High School.
>> So so those areas are going to be
identified as like the worst but it
needs
the most work most of the condition.
>> Yeah, so we
There are
sidewalks that are deteriorated kind of
all sort of over the place I guess you
know, there are certain
there are some sidewalks that are closer
down towards Nashua's that
you know, are in in need of repair. We
tried to present a project that was
let's say cohesive
rather than sort of jumping around
but that you know, could be something
that we discuss
moving forward but you know, each each
alternative was sort of a condensed
point A to point B
improve the sidewalks in this area and
then yeah, and be done with it because
once you start jumping around you know,
you lose efficiencies with construction
and you know, the traffic control. You
have it all set up, it's great, it's
perfect, and everybody can
um you know, everybody can can be
through the area or
two-way traffic around the work zone.
But if you start, you know, bouncing
around, things could get more expensive,
but we tried to
proceed in a manner that had a cohesive
sort of uh
project.
>> Any questions or comments on this item?
Nobody?
Jay, do you want to talk?
>> Identify yourself and come up to the
podium, please.
>> I got to go up to the podium?
>> Yep.
>> I tried to get Brian to do it, but he
was too fast for me.
>> I got I two questions. One one I don't
think is really a big deal, but are you
are you going to encroach into my
entrances?
>> No, so we're
I know I know you you you have the the
garage, right?
>> Yeah, I don't want my entrances
encroached into. I don't mind you using
what you got, but I don't want to lose
no entrance.
>> No, what we're planning what the project
proposes to do is maintain the existing
curb line.
>> I thought so.
>> on the road side.
>> Fair enough.
>> Once we start moving curb,
>> I'm good.
>> I'm good with that.
>> Perfect.
>> Second second thing is the really reason
why I'm here is because I talked to
Pete,
didn't get much of a response. I talked
to Judy, who told me to come here
>> Yep.
>> about parking on the street. There's no
striping.
I am inundated with liquor store
customers in my parking lot, and people
pulling in talking on their cell phone,
and I got no place for my customers
cuz they think that it's they think it's
a breakdown lane all the way down
through town. They're scared to park out
on the street, so they pull their truck
in with their camper, their motor home,
and they block my whole place all summer
long in front of the liquor store.
>> Yeah.
>> I need some striping on the street.
>> Okay.
>> And if it's going to be going to the
DOT, it'd be a good time to ask
>> Yep.
>> for striping on the street.
>> Yeah.
>> Even if it ain't part of your project,
>> Sure.
>> get it approved and then the town will
do it.
>> Got it.
>> But any town that has a successful
downtown business, little kid, anybody,
stripes their damn business district.
Gorum town does not stripe our business
district. So, you come down through town
and you think it's all breakdown. And
this business is and places they're
doing business and people don't dare to
pull over and stop.
>> Yeah.
>> They'll talk on their phone.
Yeah. That's all I got.
Appreciate it.
>> Yes.
>> We did call you last time.
>> We proceeded with not trying to
eliminating any on-street parking, sort
of keeping that curve. I know what
you're saying.
>> I don't want to eliminate it. I want it
installed. I want parking stripes. I
need some stripes. So, people say, "Oh,
there's a whole striping." You tell
everybody where they can park. Don't
park here. Don't park here. Don't park
here. It's red. Don't park here. It's
yellow. Don't park here. But you don't
tell anybody where they can park.
>> Yeah.
>> That's my point.
>> Yep.
>> And that's it.
>> Got it.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Jim.
Anybody else on this side to speak or
comment?
Really?
You did a good job, Aaron.
How about this side?
Brian.
>> Brian Well from
Bangor Street, Gorum.
And also president of the Presidential
Rangers.
Um
this is what I was hoping to see tonight
because I've been asking for years on
what's happening. Is it a total I heard
rumors it was a total redesign of Main
Street and they're going to stop all
snowmobiles from going up and down Main
Street, which is
not really what I'm seeing tonight.
From what I'm seeing tonight on
alternative one and two, it's not going
to affect anything that we're riding.
In reality, maybe a little bit heading
up towards Mr. Pizza on the south side
of the street, which that we can get
around that.
You know what I'm saying? So,
I'm really confused on how this all
became about about we're closing down
snow the streets to snow. That was the
word I got
well before you were here.
Going back to Denise.
>> Depends on how long with the project is.
What what it is cuz you're right, if
it's
>> Well, I don't know if anybody in this
room wants to spend more money than the
budget. We can't afford our taxes now.
>> Right.
Yes.
>> And and you can ask businesses that.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> As well as the homeowners.
So, I don't I don't think we want to see
that.
Um I would be glad to be a part of the
committee
um if that happens because I do have a
lot of other ideas on how we can get
snowmobiles off the sidewalks a little
more cuz it's not ideal. Like we all
understand that.
But we've been allowing it for over 35
years.
And the businesses, some of them rely on
that business in the winter to be
successful. You know those cold January
days when no one wants to leave the
house, guess what? Snowmobiles are out
of the house and they're going to the
restaurants.
They're the only business they get some
days. So, it's very important to these
businesses
that we do, you know.
>> So, that's why it's very important that
we have a committee to study all of it
and get input from different
sides of the fence.
>> Absolutely.
Yeah, and I I agree. And like I said, I
do have some other ideas on what we
could do.
>> We have ideas, too.
>> Um so, yeah, I I'd like to be part of
it.
>> But with that being said, Brian,
it's it's going going
um
it's not the town's responsibility to
put this committee together.
It would be
snowmobile club
>> Mhm.
>> um business owners
the state if they wanted to participate.
>> Sure.
Yeah.
Um
>> Just just so you know that so if you
don't hear anything about a committee,
then start something.
>> Yeah.
I'll work with you guys to maybe get
that going.
Um you know, some of the other areas
that we looked at here even south of or
heading towards Maine towards the golf
course, those sidewalks are in rough
shape, too.
Um you know, down the road is it going
to be as easy as uh stripping the
pavement off and repaving them? I don't
know, but that's something in the
future.
Um but no, that's all I really had to
say because, you know, a lot of people
here tonight were worried that we were
going to lose access.
And
you know, from what you guys are saying
with the grant money, it doesn't allow
it, which isn't 100% true from the
research I did. The grant from the state
and the feds is you need to maintain and
plow the sidewalks. It doesn't say you
can't ride a snowmobile down it.
It just doesn't say that from what I've
gathered.
So, that's something we should look
into.
We don't need to ride on the sidewalks
down here.
There's There's no need to.
>> We don't want to.
>> We don't want to.
You know, it's it's not the area for it.
And I agree, I think, you know, the
option
either one or two are stretching it to
get that
downtown area where all the a lot of the
businesses are looking better and more
walkable.
Um I think it's great. You know, I think
it needs to be done.
And I I would also like to see addition
of a bike lane
in some of those areas. I mean, a lot of
people ride bikes now.
Um I think that could be important, too.
You see that in a lot of lot of other
communities. They have designated bike
lanes.
>> The one I think you want to take that?
>> I'll I'll take that.
>> There's a slide for that for that I had
a feeling it was going to come up.
Um
so
we took a look at Let me get to it here.
I had it up here somewhere.
So, we took a look at
um
let me take a step back.
Direction that we have received is
one maintaining on-street parking.
So, how do we come up with a homogeneous
use in the corridor with on-street
parking,
bicycles,
uh and traffic?
So, right now
the existing travel lane, so yellow line
to white line is 11 ft.
Generally, 11 ft and then from white
line to face of curb is 11.
Uh excuse me, 10 ft. So, you have 21 ft
really to work with.
Uh throughout most of the corridor so
there you have you know, dips and dips
and dives. Um the guidance that
um AASHTO has out um
is
really you need 10 and 1/2 ft from the
face of curb
to the outside of the influence area.
So, you don't have things like door
strikes, you know, people riding in the
bike lane, someone opens their door,
um
you know, and then and
causing an accident or they they have to
divert out into the traffic to get
around a door and all of a sudden you
have a vehicle
uh a vehicle issue.
But, really what you need
um this bike lane
if you incorporate parking,
a buffer, a bike lane
to the travel way
you need 14 and 1/2 ft.
You got to move the curb back.
>> Right.
>> You got to move the curb
>> And it's got to be on each side because
>> Right, you got to First Yeah, exactly.
First, you need it sides.
>> Right. So, it's just like you wouldn't
>> It has a large impact
with number one, moving that curve and
that whole sidewalk would have to be
shifted over a couple of feet.
>> Yeah.
>> So, now you're removing all the curve,
you're putting in a new curve, you have
drainage that's no longer on the face of
curve, it's offset a couple of feet. So,
we did evaluate
um
you know, the addition of a bike lane
for the project,
but with the you know, with the limited
funding, with you know, with the tight
schedule,
I believe you know, the direction that
we got was you know, pedestrian
pedestrian uh sidewalk balance, you
know, getting getting those things up to
up to compliance as far as we can.
Um but yes, we
looked at you know, what the impact
would be if we're trying to add a bike
lane.
>> Okay.
I get it. Makes sense now. Yeah. That's
all I had for now.
Thank you. Bye.
>> Anyone else?
>> Uh you can go ahead.
Uh excuse me, Casey. My wife and my wife
Suzanne and I live on 196 Main Street
across from the Royal Oak.
So, I'm just guessing just because of
the limited amount of money that you
had, you just had to pick and choose
like the worst areas.
Uh
we're not getting sidewalks all the way
down Main Street both sides, right?
So, what was the criteria just to decide
like the really dilapidated areas were
the ones that really needed it?
>> Yeah, I mean, we tried.
I understand that, you know, it's some
you know, some of the sidewalks within
the project area are probably okay, some
of them, but yeah, it was
uh trying to I mean, there was no like
decision matrix on you know, which side
like does this sidewalk get touched or
does that one I want to knock get
touched? But we tried to come up with
sort of a
uh
cohesive project that, you know, the
schools was something that we got a lot
of feedback on initially.
Uh
the the warm common crosswalk is is, you
know, crosswalk that's heavily used all
summer long.
Um
so, we tried Like I said, we tried to
frame a project that kind of
captured that whole area. And that's
kind of how we proceeded with the
development of the alternatives.
Uh
that doesn't mean that there are other
areas that need attention.
>> Oh, okay.
>> For sure.
>> I get it. So, this wasn't enough to do
the whole thing.
>> No, and I think that was the the goal of
alternative four was, you know,
essentially how much would it cost to
just reconstruct one side of the road
from point A to point B. You know, total
project cost, I think in my matrix I had
somewhere else 4 million.
Um
you know, that that's a full
reconstruction. That's new curb, new
new,
you know, new uh
you know, new curb and sidewalk, but the
project budget wouldn't sustain full
sides of the road for the entire length.
>> Right. Okay, so the really dilapidated
areas are going to get the attention
then.
Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> And and I will add, you know, HEB does a
good job with their cost estimates, so
you don't get surprises.
And if things go well and we don't run
into Of course, I should expect the
unexpected, but let's say we don't hit
any water mains, you know, we we do a
good job. There's built-in
contingencies,
and if we have more money,
then we'll,
you know, look at, "Hey, we're going to
put in another budget."
>> out?
>> Right.
Carol?
>> Yep.
>> Jack?
>> Jack? of Roadhog Barbecue.
Um
I would like to get on that committee
with with them. I just want to just
stress how vital it is
for our central part of that town there
to get snowmobiles down there.
From November 1st until we get enough
snow to get the trails open in the town,
that's that's
severe squeezing season.
You know,
I
end of May through that November 1st, I
employ 40-something people.
I
them people go back to school and such.
But to make it through that point so I
can keep my doors open, we just have to
find a way to get snowmobiles in town.
The first couple of years that we were
here, we were like, "Boy, this is
great." We had the snow
and it it helped out like
it's just amazing how much it helped
out. Of course, we're going to Mother
Nature's not going to give us snow all
the time, but
for me to keep the doors open, we try to
we try not to do a 2-week shutdown. We
want to be the consistent place in town.
Uh
7 days a week. Travelers are coming
through, they need a place to eat. And
so it's vital that we can
find a way and like I'm volunteering to
get on that committee. Who or where do I
got to talk to? Sign me up.
Thank you.
>> Anyone else?
Now's your chance.
>> I just have a question. Terry Means.
>> I just had a question on the signs.
Those aren't those ones that make the
really obnoxious noise when you press
the button. Yeah.
>> No, these are just they just flash.
>> Okay. All right. Just wanted to say
thank you.
>> Going once.
Going
twice.
>> Hi. Yes, production.
Uh my name is Paul Robitaille. I'm
chairman of the planning board.
And we worked on this project for many
years trying to come up with this.
And one of the things I think we need is
that
we were all in favor of project uh uh
narrative four.
Because I think that's the way to do
things.
The way to do them right. Do it once and
for all and get it done. I realize
there's not enough money in this project
right now to do that.
But I'd like to see us at least try.
And the thing of it is is that I really
think that what we should do is not just
look at little patches here, but try to
go as far as we absolutely can from
Route 16 up to Route 2.
It's very important for us to do this.
Because right now what's going on in our
society is we're seeing whole segments
of our population that can no longer
afford private transportation.
They are falling out of that and they
are walking. Every day you see people
walking from their apartments to the
Dollar General Store.
I see people walking every day
to Coos County Family Health.
And we're seeing people walking all the
way down those those stairs
uh from the opposite direction also
trying to get to that
And I think that's one of the things we
have to take into consideration is what
we're going to do in the future.
Now, if there's a way that we can come
up with the money to do the
number four uh
alternate alternative,
I think that's the way we should go at
is do it once, do it now, and then we're
done with it for another 50 years.
But I think if we do it piecemeal,
we're going to be back in 10 years.
We're going to be back in 20
or we're going to be back in 30.
>> Paul, we can't hear you this way.
>> I
>> You keep turning your
>> Let's Let's try and figure something out
that I think is the best way to try to
do this and do it right.
Because I think in the coming future
walking and other modes of
transportation are going to become more
and more important
for people to be able to get around.
And that's the social economic situation
we're going to be facing in the next 20
or 30 years.
So, I think that's something we need to
take into consideration.
Anyway,
>> We need to talk about money.
>> that's what I had to say.
>> Thank you.
>> Paul, if you keep taxing people like
that, everyone's going to be walking.
And I'm not talking.
>> Amen. Please.
Is there anybody else that wants to
speak?
>> Uh Rick Sabat with the pizza and I
believe there is a sidewalk past me
between McDonald's and myself. And I
think if you guys maybe didn't do a
complete reconstruction with all new
granite, use some of the granite you
could use and go as far as you can with
alternative one on one side and then
maybe in the winter time we could use
the sidewalk on the other side for snow
shoes.
And then we wouldn't encroach on the new
pavement and that type of stuff. I think
that's a good alternative. It goes all
the way down through.
I think it would be a good solution for
everybody.
>> Yeah, and that that was kind of that the
mode even everything from
cuz engineers they they want to propose
here's a 5-ft ADA concrete sidewalk.
Those go away.
You know, we don't want it. We don't
have the time or the money to deal with
right-of-way issues. So, let's keep the
existing sidewalks, rehab. Uh I asked
Eric about recycling curb and we're
going to try. There's a few spots where
you're going to have to pull it and
bring it new, but we're going to save
money in in that way. Um, and as as you
mentioned, kind of the continuous,
instead of jumping around construction
of course the end product wouldn't look
good. So, you try to have a continuous
piece, but Rick, I I agree with you
totally. We'll be as efficient as we
can, you know, are the sidewalks going
to be beautiful, brand new, perfect? No,
but we're going to have a lot more
better sidewalks.
>> Right. And on the McDonald's side, you
guys use way less hoses down through
there, so the noise for the homes and
everything would be way less impact.
Exactly.
Yeah, good good also, yeah.
>> Thank you.
Anyone else?
>> Then, go ahead.
>> I just wanted to I didn't know if you
were all having me do it or not.
I'm Mary White. I guess what I'd like to
do is just to kind of get a real short
clarification.
What I think I heard was if if it's a
new part of the sidewalk, whether it's
on this side, this side, or wherever, if
it's a new part of the sidewalk, it's
being redone,
refurbished, whatever,
no snow machines. Anything that's not
refurbished, snow machines can continue
to go on that. Is that what I'm hearing?
>> I think you're definitely hearing
with this grant money, this grant money
can't be used for snow blowers.
>> Or any kind of motor vehicles, not just
snow blowers, can't be dirt bikes, can't
be anything.
>> Um, as far as
the other part, you know, the board
hasn't made
>> That's Well, that's why the committee
needs to be formed.
>> The snow blowers talked about all all of
that.
>> Yeah, cuz as Brian said,
there's there's um other ways to get
access and things they could do to
improve to minimize sidewalk
use.
>> All right. Thank you for the
clarification. Like I said, I just
wanted to see if what I heard
was valid.
>> Okay. I think that
this committee is very important.
And I hope that
with formation of the committee, you'll
get all you'll get all the answers you
need.
And participation from everybody.
Or or those boundaries
exist.
Town.
State.
And snowmobile club.
>> And and Bob's going to be the one
spearheading that?
>> But no, Bob is going to be
on the committee representing board.
>> Okay.
>> Yes.
>> So, somebody else is starting it?
Friday.
>> Yeah.
Well, based on the fact that
they have the issue
we should be responsible for putting it
together.
>> Scott.
>> Good evening. Scott Nugent.
Just want some clarification cuz there's
some confusion from
Mary's question and how Peter asked it.
Maybe we just were wondering. The way I
understand this and the way Brian
understood it, the way I did, was
anything that's not touched
as far as this grant goes, is still open
to any snowmobile traffic up to that
point, correct? Or are you shutting down
the entire cuz that's the confusion that
>> I think it's TBD, to be determined. To
be determined.
>> We're waiting for the committee.
>> Right.
>> Right.
Right. And that's it's that's that's for
something the committee to look at. We
got to look at all of it.
>> Well, the committee number one needs to
be started by your group, not by me.
I'm I'm not a member I'm not a town
board.
You guys need to start a committee and
invite who you think should be on the
committee.
I I don't think I should start a
committee on behalf of the town to tell
us what sidewalks we need to use or
>> I just think this I think this there was
some confusion and and I'm confused now
too to be honest with you cuz what I
originally heard was
whether we use uh the first or the
second alternative, which either one is
fine as far as as far as I was
concerned.
But anything that we don't touch with
this grant would still potentially be
open for snowmobile snowmobile traffic
cuz this would still allow our local
businesses, the majority of them, to
have access
in the wintertime.
The last question by Mary it sounded
like no it wasn't.
So I So it sounded like the town was
going to go towards maybe not allowing
snowmobiling altogether. That's where
the confusion was and I just hope we
could have some clarification because I
think
nobody in this room is going to say that
they don't agree that we need to support
our downtown and we need that we need to
revitalize it a little bit.
Uh we need to have some nice looking
sidewalks. We need like Mr. Holmes said
we need to have some lining. Um I've
seen it. We've all seen it. They think
it's a breakdown lane on their phone and
I think those are all good comments. But
I think we need some direction too is
anything that's not touched right now
because I think you're going to get a
whole lot more support if we can say
okay hey listen right now
um you know nothing is nothing is going
to change if it's not touched. If it's
if it's from Mr. Pizza to the common
well hey you know what then they don't
use snowmobiles on it anyways. But I
think it would be a lot clearer. I I
think there's some confusion
uh
from what I'm hearing
behind me um from the cuz we've had two
different comments. We've had one that
said yes
everything would be all the way we
understood it was yeah it was open and
then we heard it was kind of not open.
So we just I think there's some
confusion. I think we got to have some
clarification and I agree a committee is
going to help but I think we need to
have some got to have some
clarifications to what
the board of selectmen and town manager
wants to do or what their goal is too as
to revitalizing our downtown.
>> No, I I agree with that totally. I guess
not to be um
not answering your question directly but
the focus of this meeting and their time
was for this grant and the pedestrian.
It wasn't a let's make a snowmobile
policy.
>> No.
>> But if you know if you
with this committee because we want all
the vested parties that are
there
I think you will come up with an
acceptable solution
without using this time this grant
funded
to talk about snow machine only.
>> Right, but I and I'm not I'm just using
snow machine. I'm just but that seems to
be the topic but I think there was some
confusion as to what's being said
tonight. That's that's that was my point
and whether snow machine, ATVing
e-bikes, whatever whatever it is. I
think there was some confusion.
>> So, when it's on delivery this grant
funded work and again wherever it is
the if we decide to do like Paul's idea,
let's just do one side all the way up
then
well, then that would impact a lot of
our side. So, if you do option one or
two
um or you know, then
you would have that opportunity to say
we have a lot more options for snow
machines.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Anyone else?
>> All right, Martin Nations.
The public house hearing.
Uh
when I purchased the pub house, I had to
get a 5B note. That's all they'll give
you for commercial loans.
I have to rewrite that note in a couple
of years.
The original note was based on
perspective
uh you know, income and the income was
based on
the snowmobile
income.
That's $100,000 a year for me.
That's approximately what I get every
year from snowmobiles.
Take that off the table when I go to
refinance a couple of years from now
and I probably won't qualify
to get another mortgage.
So, that'll be the end of the pub house
for me.
So, your sidewalks ain't going to do any
good if there's no place to walk to on.
Okay? That's that's all I got to say,
but
the project I think is going to going to
help the town a lot. I just hope you
guys consider that the town relies
on the businesses.
Thank you.
>> Anyone else?
Going once.
Twice.
Are we looking for a motion to adjourn?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
>> Aye.
>> Aye.
Thank you, Eric.
>> Thank you all for coming.