To the editor:
As with most municipalities, New Sweden’s roads are maintained by either state funding, and/or local tax moneys. Numbered highways and major connector roads are usually the responsibility of the State to administer, while local “town ways” are maintained by the town road crew and municipal officers, using funds allocated by annual town vote. Unfortunately, of late, there appears to be a rift amongst those who reside on “state” roads and those on locally tax maintained ways. As a direct result, adequate repair and surfacing of local town roads has been severely limited.
Maine’s “Pot-hole” law (Title 29, MRSA) holds that any verbal/written complaint directed to the municipal officers concerning any locally maintained roadway that is deficiently non-compliant with the definition of “safe and convenient” for travel, must be addressed in short order and taken care of. Sufficient to say, virtually all of the road funds allocated for 2013-14 have been then, at the request by residents of the Rista Road, dedicated to repair and upgrade that town way. Unfortunately, this has eliminated any effort to save for larger projects, such as rebuilding of the West Road, which has not seen serious attention since 1980-81 (except for the first half-mile). At present, this road is not in any way “safe and convenient” and in much need of repair. The hope is this will be acknowledged by the Budget Committee and future municipal officers.
Another important issue, is our municipal office building, which has suffered from long deferred maintenance. On 7 August, selectmen voted to solicit bids for the replacement of deteriorated doorways and the access ramp. Prior to this, the ramp had been fully certified, as having been in full compliance with Federal ADA laws and specifications. Requests for additional modifications had to be denied as these changes would not have been possible in accordance with ADA specifications in it’s present condition. Due to the dilapidated condition, it has been voted to redesign and completely replace the present ramp so as to include all concerns, but only as it was necessary to make such edifice a safe entrance for all towns’ people.
Raymond W. Hildebrand
New Sweden
