Houlton public works to help build footbridge

HOULTON – Although town councilors are not completely sure of the amount of in-kind labor that the town’s Public Works Department will contribute to the Riverfront Bridge project, the council guaranteed on Monday evening that the employees will do something to help.

After nearly an hour of debate at the meeting, councilors opted to offer municipal services for the construction of the 187-foot bridge and the surrounding park. The pedestrian footbridge will be built near the North Street Bridge that crosses the Meduxnekeag River, and officials hope to furnish the nearby park with picnic tables, restrooms and other amenities. The project is slated for completion by next fall.

Departmental employees could be asked to clean up the area and pave a trail at the site, although a complete list of chores was not available on Monday evening. Councilors will be presented with the roster at a future meeting.

Money, an ongoing roadblock for officials, once again became an issue at the meeting. Robert Anderson, chairman of the riverfront committee, told councilors that the group has $800,000 remaining to fund the project after using some money to secure permits and pay for demolition work at the site. That amount is still not enough, Anderson reiterated on Monday evening.

The chairman explained that lighting for the bridge, a ramp and railings were eliminated from the design sketch because of fiscal constraints.

“We need lighting, but it could come later,” Anderson said. “We also need the ramp. If we can find the dollars before construction is completed, we would like to get them back in there.”

The chairman said that he hoped that the town would “try to be as helpful as they could” in terms of using the Public Works Department.

Councilor Gerald Adams said that he supported the bridge but was concerned about the process.

“I still need to know, where is this going to end?” Adams inquired at the meeting. “You told us there would be no taxpayer dollars needed for the project … in-kind donations are public money.”

Adams said the department already is short-staffed and has projects of its own to complete, such as repairing roads and preparing the town for winter.

Anderson told councilors that he didn’t recall saying that no taxpayer money would be needed, and said that the bridge was “the town’s project.”

Councilor Phil Bernaiche vehemently opposed the idea of using town employees for the project.

“You started it, it was your idea,” Bernaiche told Anderson. “I am not against the bridge, but you have got to do it yourself.”

Chairman Dale Flewelling rejected the idea that the town should refuse to help the committee.

“This is a bridge we are going to have for a hundred years,” the chairman reminded councilors. “To think that the public works director is going to abandon the whole public works schedule for this project is ludicrous. … he can schedule it in.”

Councilor Paul Cleary said the council needed an exact list of what the committee wanted departmental employees to do.

Councilor Mike Blanchard expressed concern that the bridge would not be lighted. Citing safety factors, the councilor suggested that the town contribute $25,000 toward the initiative. The idea will be addressed at the next meeting.