JAY — Selectpersons opted Monday not to pursue putting in a new sidewalk at the intersection of Routes 4 and 17 and Old Jay Hill Road that would lead to the Jay-Niles Memorial Library.

The overall cost was estimated at $400,000 with the town responsible for $80,000, if town officials received a state grant. The board decided by consensus.

Jenny Easter, a resident of the area, had asked town officials to consider the possibility of putting in a sidewalk from Old Jay Hill Road to the library. 

Selectpersons Keith Cornelio and board Chairman Terry Bergeron, Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere, Public Works Director John Johnson and Easter met with Patrick Adams, a representative of the Maine Department of Transportation Bike Pedestrian Program on July 6.

It is a big project, Cornelio said. Adams reviewed several options with the group and gave the group some quality time, Cornelio said.

It’s not so much the cost but it would create several issues, he said. Johnson had raised concerns about snow removal and maintenance, among other issues, Cornelio said.

The project called for putting in two flashing beacon lights, three crosswalks, 300 feet of new sidewalk, and seven tip-down ramps for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to LaFreniere’s information. 

Visibility concerns also were raised during the discussion, Bergeron said.

Easter agreed with selectpersons that Adams did a nice job of presenting the options, and said she understood the concerns raised by Johnson with snow removal and maintenance.

“I think everybody looked for a solution; none were ideal,” LaFreniere said.

She asked selectpersons if they wanted to have the sidewalk that will be removed during the rebuilding of a section of Old Jay Hill Road from Routes 4 and 17 rebuilt. The sidewalk runs from the intersection of those routes a short distance to My Dad’s Place on Old Jay Hill Road. The sidewalk ends at the convenience store/eatery. 

Cornelio said he had no problem taking out the sidewalk for the road reconstruction, but if it was going to be removed permanently they would have to let townspeople know and see whether they got feedback.

If the sidewalk is reinstalled, it would be ADA compliant, LaFreniere said. It does get used, she said.

It is actually a sidewalk to nowhere, Selectperson Tom Goding said, because it is not connected to another sidewalk. 

It is expected there will be space for people to walk once the road project is completed.

Selectperson Judy Diaz suggested it should be taken out rather than go through the expense of installing a new one and there will be space for walking. 

In other business, Bergeron thanked Deputy Town Clerk Lori “Lou” Simpson for her years of dedicated service to the town. She has resigned to take another job. Her last day is Thursday, July 14.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

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