FARMINGTON — Days after a New Vineyard woman petitioned Franklin County commissioners to require New Vineyard to plow Lowell Drive better, the town has had someone widen the road.
“We’ve done as much as we possibly can at this time,” Michelle Beedy, administrative assistant to the Board of Selectmen, said Friday.
Commissioners directed county Clerk Julie Magoon on Tuesday to call Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Fay Adams in regards to Cecile Lowell’s complaints about Lowell Drive. Lowell lives at 31 Lowell Drive, a dead-end, old county way off Route 27.
Lowell told commissioners Tuesday that she had gone to selectmen Jan. 19 to tell them the road is not being plowed wide enough for emergency vehicles, oil trucks, and trash-removal trucks to round a corner.
When they do make it down the road, the trucks have to back up three or more times to get out, she said. The snow has not been pushed back to where it is supposed to be, Lowell said. At times this winter, she has not been plowed out or been plowed out late and had to use a tractor or shovel a path to get her vehicle out.
Selectmen told her at the Jan. 19 meeting that it would be taken care of, but it wasn’t, Lowell said.
She showed commissioners several photos regarding the problems. She would like to come to an agreement with town officials to solve the issue for good.
Magoon said if commissioners believe there is a complaint against the town, they could order the town to correct it. They could hold a site inspection and public meeting.
New Vineyard contracts for snow-plowing and removal.
In 2004, the Lowell family complained to commissioners about the state of the road, and a site inspection was held. Commissioners gave selectmen and Lowell Road residents 60 days to work out a solution for snow removal. Selectmen and residents reached an agreement to properly maintain it. A plow truck turn-around was to be created.
The town also reached an agreement with the owner of a mobile home, a part of which infringes on the town’s right of way. If snow fell off its roof onto Lowell Drive, the town would remove it and bill the mobile home owner. Residents were satisfied at the time.
They are not plowing like they used to in 2004, Lowell said.
Adams said Thursday that she talked to Magoon, and that she thought the issue had been taken care of prior to Lowell going to commissioners.
Selectmen will meet to discuss the matter, she said.
Cecile Lowell, left, of Lowell Drive in New Vineyard shows Franklin County Commissioners Terry Brann of Wilton, seated left at table, Chairman Charles Webster of Farmington and Clyde Barker of Strong photos on Tuesday of the condition of Lowell Drive, located off Route 27.
Cecile Lowell, left, of Lowell Drive in New Vineyard shows Franklin County Commissioners Terry Brann of Wilton, seated left, Chairman Charles Webster of Farmington, center, and Clyde Barker of Strong photos on Tuesday of snow removal problems on Lowell Drive, located off Route 27.
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