Clarksburg Selectmen OK Tree Removal, Sign Gates Ave DeedBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
02:27AM / Thursday, December 18, 2014 | |
 Selectmen approved the tree warden removing the large tree that fell on town property for firewood. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The giant tree that fell down next to Town Hall will be turned into firewood.
The Selectmen on Wednesday agreed to a plan that would have the tree warden remove the tree and keep the wood.
On Wednesday night, Town Administrator Carl McKinney said the decision will save the town about $500. However, the town's attorney has advised that officials also file proper forms with the Ethics Commission, he said, because Tree Warden Ernest Dix is considered a town employee.
"Then we can get rid of it and not cost the town anything," McKinney said.
The tree came down on the north side of Town Hall, falling along the edge of the driveway, sometime over the Thanksgiving weekend.
"We didn't even have that much rain or wind or ice and I drove by the next day and it was toppled over," McKinney said.
Repairs will have to be done to the sidewalk and the granite catch basin in the roadway that broke in half. McKinney believes the roots ran under the basin and broke it when the tree fell.
In other business, the board also signed the deed taking possession of the 35 foot by 522 foot easement next to the Gates Avenue bridge, he said. A special town meeting on Dec. 10 approved the purchase of the property from Ron and Mary Krutiak for $1.
McKinney said the purchase will be recorded with the Registry of Deeds on Thursday and the engineering proposal sent to the state Department of Transportation for approval. Once that's done, the project can go out to bid. The town has been discussing how to replace the bridge for at least six years.
The town's engineers with Foresight Land Services are estimating a cost of $260,000 to $280,000 to install a new open bottom culvert, as required by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The town had been looking a total bill of more than $600,000 because it would have to install a temporary bridge while the original was reconstructed. Instead, a new culvert will be placed on the easement and the old culvert — an old boiler — removed.
McKinney said the town had $270,000 in its Chapter 90 funds. There is also the anticipation that Gov.-elect Charlie Baker will go through with his promise to release $100 million in Chapter 90 funds held back by the Patrick administration over funding issues.
"We will get Gates Avenue done this year," he said.
McKinney said the board also accepted Michael Milazzo's request to withdraw without prejudice his application for a permit to operate a gravel bank. Milazzo had hoped to install a rock crusher but the validity of his gravel permit had come into question.
The Selectmen are not expected to meet again until after the New Year.
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