CHATHAM – Chatham Town Meeting voters will not be asked to pay for enhancements to the West Chatham roadway reconstruction project.
Selectmen recently voted to not move ahead with an article that would appropriate funding for lighting, landscaping and sidewalks after the recommendation for an ad hoc committee.
A placeholder article had been placed on the warrant to later add an estimate for the costs of the enhancements, which include shorter streetlights, larger tress and concrete or brick sidewalks for the portion of Route 28 between George Ryder Road and Barn Hill Road.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials recently notified the town that the smaller street lights would cost between $500,000 and $750,000.
Project plans currently call for asphalt sidewalks. Concrete sidewalks with brick edging would cost nearly $300,000.
“I’m very reluctant to spend a considerable amount of town money on this project, or matching funds. I think there would have to be some kind of a cap on it,” said Dean Nicastro, a Chatham Selectman. “I’m certainly not interesting in spending $500,000 on this.”
Another recommendation from the committee was to seek a meeting with MassDOT officials.
Town officials will work with Provincetown State Representative Sarah Peake to attempt to discuss proposed project enhancements that could total $1.15 million with MassDOT.
Nicastro said the process of trying to deal with MassDOT could take time.
“I just assume call a special town meeting if that group comes back and says they will put in cement sidewalks with brick edging and they want $50,000 or $100,000 from the Town of Chatham,” Nicastro said.
The town board voted to have town officials craft a letter to send to MassDOT seeking a meeting to discuss the enhancements, along with establishing a negotiating team.
Town Meeting is Monday at 6 p.m.
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