Sewer pipe holds up Barre Town subdivision
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By David Delcore Times Argus Staff - Published: November 13, 2008
BARRE TOWN A 250-foot section of century-old ceramic sewer pipe could represent the latest hurdle for developers of a 64-unit subdivision planned on Windywood Road.
A recent engineering analysis revealed that the section of city-owned sewer pipe, which is located more than a mile from the proposed Barre Town development, will have to be replaced in order to handle the wastewater generated by more than five dozen new single-family homes.
Town Manager Carl Rogers told selectboard members this week that City Engineer Reginald Abare has proposed "upsizing" the section of sewer pipe that is located along Washington Street, between Bolster Avenue and Hill Street.
Installing a new 12-inch line to replace the existing 8-inch pipe would accommodate the proposed development and allow for future growth in the town, he said.
However, Rogers explained that, according to the city's estimates, the project will cost more than $300,000 to complete and the town could be on the hook for almost 60 percent of the expense based on Abare's reading of an inter-municipal agreement that was signed in 1971 and last amended eight years ago.
One option, according to Rogers, would be to shift the town's share sewer line upgrade, which is currently estimated at almost $185,000, to the Burlington-area developers who have proposed the project. Rogers said it is not unusual for an off-site improvement that is triggered by a particular development to be paid for by the developers.
Selectboard members stopped short of endorsing that option Tuesday night, but did agree to invite the developers in to discuss how the matter. In the meantime, they agreed to authorize the town's attorney to double-check Abare's reading of the sewer agreement and have their engineer review the analysis conducted on the city's behalf by Dufresne & Associates.
Abare said Wednesday the sewer line analysis was conducted in preparation for an Act 250 review of the Windywood Housing development. He said the townĄ»s share of the sewer line work was based on the ratio that suggests nearly 60 percent of the wastewater that flows through the troubled section of pipe is generated by town residents.
In other business Tuesday the town selectboard:
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