Board looks into sidewalk proposal
LONDONDERRY — LONDONDERRY- Both Joel Kuhlberg of the Planning Commission and Bob Wells were on hand on Oct. 7 to discuss with the Selectboard a proposal for pedestrian walkways in the north village and to determine whether the board is interested in looking into feasibility.
A group had met with Matt Mann of the Windham Regional Commission and discussed possibilities of a sidewalk on the north side of Route 11, the south side, or a riverwalk pathway along the West River.
Grant money could be available for a feasibility study, according to meeting minutes.
That record also shows Bob Cowles reminded the board of the most recent effort for sidewalks there, some 10 to 15 years ago: The town had received a grant for construction, and eventually cancelled the project and returned the grant money due to opposition.
Cowles proposed the town approach all business owners along that section of road first to gauge their level of support.
Route 11 retaining wall mural project in slightly sharper focus
LONDONDERRY- Planning Commission Member Sharon Crossman presented Selectmen with an idea for putting up a mural on the retaining wall near the Shoe Barn.
The Rotary Club had planned on undertaking this project, but that plan fell through, Crossman said in draft meeting minutes of the Oct. 7 meeting.
Another local group of citizens would like to do a mural working with Flood Brook students, she added.
The Selectboard said it looked forward to considering any submitted designs.
Parks Board gets $950 for improvements; fund drive halfway to $25K goal
LONDONDERRY- Town Clerk Kelly Pajala reported Oct. 7 that the Parks Board is closing in on the first half of its fundraising goal of $25,000 for park improvements.
Some work will be starting in Pingree Park this fall, she said, adding that there is a need for additional pressure-treated 6-by-6 timbers.
Meanwhile Colleen Gometz has been doing a lot of work cleaning up Buxton Park, she said.
The Parks Board has asked the Selectboard to approve installing two stone benches, at $400 apiece, similar to the ones recently installed by the Garden Club in Williams Park.
The board plans to put in plantings along the chain link fence, and would like to purchase blueberry plants. They proposed using funds from the Buxton Park fund for these items.
The Selectboard approved expenditure of approximately $950 for these two items.
The Parks Board also asked if the road crew could put some gravel in the parking/pulloff area. Road Foreman Duane Hart will take care of this.
Possible funds found to replace Cobble Ridge bridge
LONDONDERRY- Selectmen took up discussion Oct. 7 on a funding opportunity to replace Cobble Ridge bridge, which they said is very undersized for the location.
A motion was made and unanimously passed to look further into Community Development Block Grant Funds.
Butch Jelley attended the Oct. 7 Selectboard meeting to express his concern about the proposed Platt Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects, according to draft meeting minutes.
Jelley's property is adjacent to the Platt property, and the buildings are in close proximity. He is recorded as saying the construction could compromise his foundation, and that water flows during flood times might be altered to adversely affect him.
It's not clear where the actual property line is, he noted.
The Selectboard has not yet voted to support the projects.
Slow down on Thompsonburg Road
LONDONDERRY- Resident Bob Wells said traffic on Thompsonburg Road is running at too fast a clip.
Lacking a speed limit ordinance in town, the Selectboard and Road Foreman Duane Hart will see what can be done, according to draft minutes of the Oct. 7 meeting.
Selectmen learn of buried metal near gas station site
LONDONDERRY- A ground-penetrating radar study has been completed, revealing some metal in the vicinity of where the gas station was located. It's not likely that the detected metal is an underground tank, the Selectboard learned Oct. 7.
With that, the board elected not to undertake further investigation, according to draft meeting minutes.
The site must go on
LONDONDERRY- The town didn't receive the grant it had applied for to further its revamping the municipal website.
Selectmen on Oct. 7 agreed to proceed with work on the site anyway.
Executive session over hiring
LONDONDERRY- Selectmen entered executive session at 7:03 p.m. to discuss a hiring matter. Dan Flanagan and Esther Fishman were included in the executive session, which ended at 7:25, according to Oct. 7 meeting minutes.