Town officials voted in favor of using a $21,700 state grant to repair the lot without paving; whether the park and ride will include additional lighting is yet to be decided. The lot will be resurfaced with staymat and gravel.
Four companies submitted bids for the project that, according to the request, must be completed by late July and not interrupt the July 4th festivities.
Town Administrator Cindy Hartshorn Jones said that the Warren park and ride was a “shovel-ready project” and that the town’s road crew will not have to be involved.
E. A. Grandfield submitted a bid of $15,785, Brian Lee Excavation bid $13,025, Griffin and Griffin bid $16,181, and Kingsbury Construction of Waitsfield had the low bid with $11,848.
All four contractors received the same set of specs, according to Warren Department of Public Works Director Barry Simpson.
Simpson said he attached an additional addendum to the request for bids after several contractors contacted him with questions about the scope of work.
Select board chair Andy Cunningham asked whether any of the grant money was going to be put towards lighting for the park and ride.
Simpson said he recalled “pretty distinct negative” reaction from residents previously about the potential for additional lighting.
Cunningham said there is an existing conduit through the parking lot to the East Warren Community Market sign that could be used to install a motion sensor that would control a light on the porch.
Select board member Anson Montgomery said, “I know there was a lot of concern about lighting,” in reference to a previous meeting that drew opposition from abutting landowners.
At a lively discussion at Town Meeting two years ago, an article calling for the lot to remain unpaved was passed over by voters. At a public forum held three weeks later, town officials approved using the state funds for paving.
Residents questioned how the town first came to apply
for the grant that was approved two years ago. Warren Zoning Administrator
Miron Malboeuf said that the town had applied for the same grant in 2006 and
2009 to no avail, but it was approved after he reapplied.
Malboeuf said that there is evidence that the lot is being used by commuters
and tourists and is the only town-owned parking lot that qualified for the
grant. The grant also requires that the park and ride be on a commuter highway
and along a public transit route. Warren Conservation Commission member Susan
Hemmeter argued that the East Warren lot is not along any public transit route because
no public transit serves that location.
In addition, Simpson said there will need to be handicapped parking signs installed because the designation wouldn’t be visible because there won’t be pavement to mark.
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