SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – At the Monday, April 27, Springfield Selectboard meeting, Town Manager Scott Pickup presented the board with the latest updates on several properties that received municipal action notices and complaints. Discussion on these properties has occurred at several previous meetings, and some progress has been made, although issues pertaining to public health and safety remain.
A group of residents attended Monday night’s meeting to share with the board their recent experiences and immediate concerns. Pickup and Board Chair Kristi Morris listened to the public’s remarks and reiterated that Pickup has been working with the police department and the fire and safety department, and continues to pursue a resolution for each site.
Morris commented, “We are sensitive to what is happening, and we appreciate you coming in and bringing it to our attention. We are doing what we can under the law, and we are addressing it.”
Further along the agenda, Pickup addressed a previous request to add the Crown Point Road paving project to this summer’s road construction list. The updated cost estimate for the reconstruction is $602,762, and Pickup reported that the annual town paving budget is approximately $1.35 million. Therefore, the Crown Point Road plan would absorb nearly half of the total budget.
Pickup stated that Springfield maintains about 85.5 miles of paved roads, with 19 miles requiring full reconstruction, a process which costs “significantly more” than mill-and-pave work. Pickup therefore recommended pushing off that project until 2027, when the town anticipates eligibility for a $200,000 state paving grant to help offset the cost.
After a question from Morris regarding whether a short-term temporary “band-aid” fix would help, Pickup said he would discuss potential options with the department of public works superintendent and report back.
Pickup shared some bleak news from a Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) joint House-Senate transportation committee session he attended in Montpelier. Per VLCT, the State of Vermont is about $33 million short of matching federal transportation grant funds, and without that match, the state could lose more than $150 million in federal funding.
Statewide, Pickup reported, 18 temporary bridges are currently being used, and 17 bridges are fully closed with no clear funding to repair or replace some of them. Several towns with less than 3,000 taxpaying residents are facing $10-15 million bridge projects, which are not financially feasible. Additionally, gas- and tax-related revenues are not keeping pace with needs and increasing construction costs, and recent storms and floods have worsened infrastructure conditions, further straining the system.
“More to be determined,” concluded Pickup. “It is certainly a challenging time for transportation.”
The selectboard’s next meeting will be Monday, May 11. The second May meeting is currently scheduled for Memorial Day, May 25, so there was some discussion as to what alternative date would work for everyone. Noting the absence of Heather Frahm, Morris asked board members to check their calendars and circle back to the issue at the May 11 meeting.