Trails Committee - Regular Meeting

Uh, thank you, Steve, for Where are you? At the airport, I guess, huh? Yeah. Yes. This is uh Denver, the unmistakable Denver International Airport. Um, I have a 6 pm flight out here. Um, so that couple hours. I got a couple hours.

That's Thank you for attending something to do while you wait at the airport. So, uh, but I had a long talk with him today. So, it's happy to see him here. Um, well, we have I think we we can't do the minutes because uh we have councelor Waterhouses are going to be officially apparently we have got to get the mayor to recognize her statuses next council meeting. Uh, but so we can't do the minutes today. Unfortunately, my my pro my fault. I'm sorry. Uh, but I welcome her on board. She's uh agreed to be another council member. So, we This is a a It's called It's ad hoc meeting, ad hoc group. And we are u we have council members, our voting members. Everybody else is going to be a member, but for voting purposes, not important, just voting on the minutes and things. Um, we need to have council votes. So, moving on from there, um, I think we need the town engineers report, which I think is going to be a really good one because I got a brief on.

Hello. Hello, everyone. Thank you, Joe. Um yeah, I do have a I do have um couple um interesting things to report on this this quarter. So, as I was telling um councelor Merritt, um we we just this week submitted an application to Crag for um a sidewalk project on Woodland Avenue to address that pedestrian fatality that occurred last November. So, the the project we applied for will will fill a a 605- ft gap in in the existing sidewalk and then extend the sidewalk about 7,200 ft all the way to Blue Hills Avenue. Um and and I as part of that application, I solicited um a support letter from the magnet school um as well as um included some some emails we had gotten from residents um you know asking us to specifically address that. So um that was just submitted this week. Crag. Um the deadline for that application is actually not until February 18th and they'll be reviewing those sometime in April and hopefully letting um everyone know who's successful in May. Um, the other thing I wanted to talk about was the the School Street project and and Joe, after talking to you and and hearing um, you know, how much um, support there was for a sidewalk extension on that project to Seabberry. Um, I decided I I think it makes all the sense in the world for me to talk to Crag and see if we can see if we can get an increase in funding. um um to to include sidewalks in in our current project. Um I might, you know, I'm probably going to have to pay our designers a little bit more fee to to design that portion, but in in the grand

scheme, I don't think the design costs are much. Um so I'll I'll start working on that. I have a real good connection with with the Krag staff and they're usually very supportive. So, um I'll I'll let you know how I make out with that. Um but if I if I could get Joe, you had mentioned there was um um signatures that were submitted to council letters. If anything I could get um in support of that would would be certainly help the cause. I have a I have a copy of that. I'll get you.

Great. Great. Um and then just general updates on on all all of our other trail projects. Um the um town center to high school project. Um you know, as you know, the the big hangup there is a railroad crossing. Um mainly because the DOT is in the middle of a negotiation with a new railroad operator. Um which is expected to be signed sometime in March. Um, I I've actually through our through our consultant, I've engaged the anticipated railroad operators consultant to work with us on designing the crossing. So, that should hopefully make um, you know, the process go a lot smoother because we'll actually be working with the consultant who does the review for the new operator. Um, the the Tyler Street to Rockwell Park project. um preliminary design was submitted and reviewed by Prague um in January this year and our consultant VHB continues to push that design forward. Um I'm I'm anticipating holding a public information meeting on that project um in March. Um, so I I'll keep you posted on on the date for that cuz um hopefully hopefully um you know we we can get some attendance from from the the committee um at the public information information meeting if that's possible. And the um third trail project we have is the the transportation alternative projects project which is you know the high school to Toby road. Um and and that's actually believe it or not the balls in my court on that. Just just last week the the department DOT

approved the scope. I just need to review my comments to make sure the the consultant addressed all my comments on the scope and then the next step is to move forward with negotiating manh hours and then fee and then we and then we enter into agreement with the consultant to begin the design. So I mean if all goes well um you know that design should get started in the spring this spring. It's it's like it's a very big project. you know, it's a $6 million project. Um, the design fee is going to be upwards of $800,000 and it's it's 80% funded by the federal government and 20% by the state. So, there's zero local dollars in this project. Just just in and in in fact, I I intend on this particular funding source allows um the municipalities to request um reimbursement for staff time. So, I actually intend on doing that as well. So, um, any time I put in on it, we can get reimbursed for.

Wow. And I I think that that's about everything I have, unless anyone's got questions. I I do. Um, you spoke about Avenue. How many feet and all of the sidewalks? Oh, Woodland Avenue. So, there's Yeah, there's a 605 foot gap there now. Yeah. And then and that gap it's it's somewhere somewhere in the Ashley Court area. And then um from from where the next section of sidewalk ends all the way to Blue Hills, it's 7200 ft. Okay. 7200. Okay. If if if you want, I could send out a copy of the

How how much do you expect that to cost to put in? 1.5 million. Wow. which is it's the maximum. It's the maximum. So So standalone sidewalk projects um have a cap of $1.5 million through the lotet program. So we're we're asking for the maximum. So is it fair to say I was trying to say that to put a a mile of sidewalk in cost a million dollars? Yeah, that's that's pretty close. Yeah. When you said that to me, I'm like, yeah, you know, he's he's he's about right. Yeah. about the same for the bike path too I think so.

Yeah. Yeah. Depending. Yeah. Depending. Right. So, okay. Thank you. Um also um uh Steve uh Mitchell uh has a name at in the state of somebody who might help with the railroad crossing safety for school kids walking along uh Park Avenue. Um, so Steve, what was that name? Yeah, Bridget Morerti. Um, oh, I know. Yeah, I know Bridget. You know Bridget. Yeah. So, uh, yeah, I I definitely think that this would be an appropriate project for Safe Roads School. That's for sure.

It's But it's already funded, so um Yeah, you're right. It would be for sure. Yep. Okay, good. May maybe she could help Elena the railroad people. So, yeah, I I'll reach out to her. She She's my She's my old boss's wife. Yeah. Yeah. Mark. Yeah. Who can you tell us who the new rail operator is? It's I mean, it's officially not anno not announced yet. So, I I you know, they they don't really want to tell anyone who it is until it's official. We'll talk offline. Yeah. Yeah. Got Thank you, Mr. share. Can I Are you done? Go ahead.

Yeah. Okay. I've I I've got a couple of questions. Um first of all, um you and I talked a few weeks ago, Rob. Is there any other Have you gotten any other notifications when they're going to finalize the East Coast Greenway plan? I I haven't heard anything on the East Coast Greenway and and I I didn't reach out to anyone either. Um Okay. So maybe we should reach out to Caitlyn and find out what it, you know, because it it is it is rather disconcerting when you're looking back at material and that was sort of in the final stages and now it just doesn't seem to get the draft doesn't seem to I feel like I saw an email from Caitlyn and and

today Bruce Donald announced he told me today that the East Coast Greenway um project the proposals you know from Crog was approved. So, I don't know what that means exactly. This is Yeah, this this is a draft plan, but that could be what they're talking about. I have no idea. Yeah, the study Bruce said something about last week it was approved. So, okay. But I I just I'd like to get an update on that. Um I think it was the other town's um you know approving or endorsing the the the plan was the hold up, right? and and we did ours and we did ours back in September.

Yeah. So, um second question, the grant that um uh uh Connecticut uh Forest and Parks Association CFPA was going to put in for the trail extension through the notch. Has that gone in? Is that

Yeah, that was that was submitted. Um I I I talked to Mark Juul today actually from VHB because he's historically been on the review panel um for DEP on the rec trails grant and um as of yet um he hasn't heard when when they're going to start reviewing the submitts um but but it did go in. I I actually have a copy of their application if you guys are interested that the application that got submitted. They kind of you'd already sent us to that I think had Did I I could have this is this is CFPA. Yeah. Right. I I sent you what I put together. Right. Right.

They watered it down and then submitted something. Um but whatever. It doesn't matter. They're they're going to they're going to do what we asked. And um

Okay. Yeah, I I just want I I want to make just one quick comment for awareness of the people on this committee and Joe heard this last time. Um there is a property that is um I I think the address of it is on Hoskins Road, but it is an L-shaped property that goes from, you know, comes off of Hoskins Road up near Willox Park, then goes uh north south behind uh Hoskins Road and comes out on Adams Road, not very far below where this trail would come out. And what what they're they are talking about ultimately putting trails on this property. A lot of it's wetland, so probably some of it will have to be boardwalk. But once we get the trail through the notch, if this whole um if the the if their vision I becomes reality, that would be a connector not along the road, but that would be a connector through actually very good educational wetlands

up to Willox Park. So, I just throw that out. And I think they're talking about getting school kids out there. as you know, that's one of the areas in town where we have um species of concern, particularly salamanders. So, that that that would be that would if we get the this p the first piece of your project in um and this goes in, it's just it's a win for it's a win because this is something the town would not have to provide the trail connection to Willox

down by the road. So, just want to throw that out. Last question I was asked to ask, as you know, I I uh am in contact with a lot of the people traffic coming around the the town because that was one of the things when I was on council. Um what is the status of the Maple uh Avenue? I guess there's it's been hung up in design because the person that it's gone to has not finished the work. What's the stat? Yeah, that the we we ended up, you know, we we hired one of our on calls to do that design um who who had performed quite well for us on on other projects. She lost a bunch of staff. She this is she's a minority firm, so um you know, we're trying to push the work, you know, what work we can to her. Um but she lost key staff. she actually tried to merge with another consulting firm who was an on call. Um so that that kind of that kind of um you know slowed things down because she was in the trying to trying to like sell her business and and you know kind of merge it with this other company. It was was Freeman who she actually tried to go to and then that fell through. So she went back um opened her door again at just with herself. So now she's doing all the work on her own and you know she's she's too far along on on that project for us to pull it from her and give it to somebody else um at this point. So she's she's you know she's determined to finish it. Um she has given us final design plans which we've reviewed and given her comments back on. She's putting together the bid documents. So, you know, we we will have something to to put out, advertise to

bid, you know, I'm hoping in March. Okay. Thank you. I have one question for Mr. Mitchell. Thank you for joining us tonight. You unmuted, Steve?

Yeah, I'm just trying to keep muted because of the background. Yeah, we we we um I mentioned at the beginning the east coast greenway gap study for this gap um you know the section up here that included Simsbury, Bloomfield, Harford and East Harford and that project Simsbury had already been um ahead of us because they were already trying to to to fix the gap that we have now between the trail off of Route 10 and the uh connector the Terapill connector that goes through Bloomfield. Um, so when is work going to begin on that trail? That's what I've uh I know Rob and I have both been trying to figure that out and ask questions and we have not gotten a clear answer. So since you're the Simsbury guy, uh

well um the answer that I got from and Rob, tell me who your counterpart is in Simsbury now. Uh Tom Yeah, Tom Roy. Tom Roy, but it's not Tom Roy, it's the other engineer. Adam Kesler,

Adam Kesler. He and I had a good conversation about two weeks ago. Um, and I said it's I know it's not an appropriate conversation while you're cleaning up 18 inches of snow. However, how we doing on the trail? So, um, he's heading up I don't know if you're aware of this. They're they're do they're doing an addition onto the music festival in Simsbury. Uh, so he was down there at that and I happen to be walking my dog. There's a dog park back there. But any rate, his comments were that that is going to be in two phases and there's going to be one phase that's going to get the greenway to Route 10 and then through Terapell Park. The other phase because it's going to be quite expensive is the bridge,

right? Is that your understanding? And that's my understanding. My understanding was they have the funds to build the trail, but they don't have the funds to build the bridge. But my question is why haven't they started building the trail? Because clearly no one's got foot, you know, foot for the bridge. Adam Adam Kesler's comment to me was it's at do. Okay. What does that mean as to when they're going to start building the trail? That's a good question. I'll circle back to Adam and see if I can find that out. Um, that's a really good question, but his his comment to me when I asked him that, just like you're asking me, it's at dot. That's all I can get,

Kevin. So I believe you know that those projects are being funded with the same source that our high school to Toby road project is funded with the you know the TA funds that their federal funds and um you know that both Bloomfield and Simsbury submitted for that grant the last round it was it was out which was in May of 2024. So Bloomfield was the top project. It's advancing. the next projects weren't going to advance. They they advanced the Bloomfield project because they were trying to spend funds, leftover funds from the current fiscal year. So, I believe it's it's a funding issue. Um, you know, funds aren't available yet for that project. That's probably what's, you know, holding it up at this point.

But, but they aren't a So, it's a cash flow problem because they were awarded a grant. Right. Right. But it it's it's it's based you know it's the the the the we were lucky that we were lucky to advance ours because there was excess funds in that fiscal year. Well they have to wait for the next they they they have they have a note saying we are going to fund this for that first part not the bridge they have a note saying they're going to fund this for the first part but the cash is not there to fund that note. Right. Right. Okay. Okay. That's that's I I just wanted to find out what was going on with that. Uh, thank you.

Okay. Can I I'd like to summarize where we are on the bike path in Bl the Greenway in Bloomfield. Um, couple things have kind of happened and I I kind of missed point they happened, but we were worried about where Hartford was going to end up uh uh their point because we couldn't decide where we were going to go until they decided where they were going to go. And uh apparently now it's we're definitely going to Toby Road along the railroad tracks. Uh so that is the route and u and so that's taken a lot of the question marks out of it. And then we come back back down to Cottage Grove and cut over to uh sort road there. I'm having a senior moment.

Tyler. Tyler. Yes. Across from Tyler and and cross over onto Tyler and go to 330 Park. um um and back over to the high school and that stretch is what we've talked about the funding's there and that thing I think is in in the design stage am I correct right we're we're scoping you know we're we're still finalizing the scope with with the selected consultant but yeah technically it's not in the design stage yet because we haven't signed an agreement but for all practical purposes it is so that's what's holding us up,

right? Yeah. It's it's the money's all available. The money's available to to Yep. Yep. the asphalt, but DOT's advanced us. Yep. With the with the um you know, thought that the money's in in they have the money in the current fiscal year. So, that's a huge stretch. But the bad news was that it's two miles. Yeah. Two miles of trail.

Yeah. and u but and we had hoped that the stretch from the high school to the center could be done this year but because of the railroad crossing problem it's delaying it. Um so the only thing that possibly can be done and I hope it hope we keep pushing to get it done we'd like to get some trail done every year. Yeah. Rockwell Tyler to Rockwell is our best hope and and and that's you know we're pushing that. Good. Good. So that's that's what we need to look forward to is highlight of Blue Hills now actually

and uh and then uh we talked about the uh center to high school stretch which is just waiting for the railroad question crossing and then then we get to the center and that is the actual passing through the center is waiting for the U center redevelopment plans because we we really don't know what's going. So, temporarily, we're going to have to go around the center on on streets uh and come out presumably somewhere by uh the congregational church and then go out and back cross back over to the railroad tracks again. Um but this is supposed to go through the center if we can. So that would make it go through the center eventually, but cross over to the railroad tracks again. And that stretch out to North Bloomfield where we have our present bike path uh is nowhere. I believe that's the best description. So we need to get some we have some old plans that we have for it and that's the preferred route. U but we need to get going on that. So that hasn't started yet. Well, yeah, there there's this the East Coast Greenway study that's, you know, and and and there's and there's init, you know, there's there's motivation on on behalf of DOT to complete the East Coast Greenway. So, there there is there's motivation to complete the gap, but study,

nothing we can do yet, but uh so you're saying that there's motivation, but where's that funding? Can that come from? Well, and I've heard, you know, the department um that's like four miles, isn't it?

It's Yeah, it's it's it's a big stretch. Um but the department is motivated to fund those sections, you know, any any applications that come in are going to score well because it's East Coast Greenway and um and and if if it's not the next I mean, the most logical funding source is transportation alternatives. So, I I don't know when that's going to come out again, but it doesn't mean the department won't initiate a project on their own. I mean, they they initiated the project in Planeville. Um, you know, they're they're designing that and building that entirely on their own initiative. So, Rob,

yeah. Is it does it is it waiting for our application? Is that something we can do? Because I I want this to happen before I die. I'll do my best. I haven't got much time left. So I And well, if I can uh interject something. Uh Rob, you use the word motivation. Uh I don't know. Are you aware of the Cambridge econometrics study that just came out in November? Are you aware of that? I'm not. I just sent it to you. Okay. Okay.

Um, so I'm going to let you distribute as you feel appropriate. And as I said to uh some people at the city of Hartford today, if that's not motivation, then you know, it's 77 to $114 million a year uh of expected economic impact from New Haven to Northampton. Um Bloomfield and Hartford can share in that money coming in if the trail is completed from Simsbury to Hartford. Yep. So

it's it probably it's definitely it wouldn't hurt to um you know approach the department from a a political perspective. Um, you know, I know I know, um, you know, Mayor Wong had had was starting to develop a relationship with with the commissioner. Um, you know, may maybe it's a good opportunity for for Mayor Harrington to to reach out. I'll speak to him about that. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if you know this, Rob, but uh a friend of mine and I, we we went from Cottage Grove Road to uh to Union Station along the Griffin Line and we took like 80 pictures and some

On bicycles, weren't you on bicycles? We were on mountain bikes. Yes. Oh wow.

Um I sent about 14 pictures to the DOT to Commissioner Bucho's office and I got a phone call about a half an hour later saying the commissioner would like to see you. Um and you know if if you've ever walked along that line, it's disgusting. It's you know particularly once you get in go into Hartford from the University of Hartford, it's it's full of trash. It's full of tires. It's got broken fences. I mean, it's disgusting. And and so Commissioner Uklido confirmed with us that it's never going to be used for light rail. We and he discussed a number of the alternatives that we've talked about for the Griffin line, as Rob Hart says, for at least 40 years now. So, um, you know, I I would I would love the opportunity to talk to the new rail people, um, and say, "Let's just tear up the railroad because it doesn't serve any purpose at all." If you look at the condition of the tracks, it's terrible. And Commissioner Ukalito's response was, "Well, the train only goes 10 miles an hour." But it but even riding mountain bikes and walking. There was one point in the rail line that my my friend made me he was going to do a video and he did a video of me pushing the rail with my foot about two inches with my foot and it's like okay and and half of the rail half of the railroad ties are all rotted or rotten. It it it's just it's it just should be you know enough enough already. We need to

Yeah, I know. I know. It's We need to tear it up. Make it a greenway. It's It's definitely a fight. And And I I'm with you. I've spent the last two days here, last three days in Boulder, Colorado, which is a platinum rated bicycle friendly community. Their whole infrastructure is around bike lanes and pedestrian lanes. And it's it's amazing when a city puts their mind to it and they've been doing it out here for probably 20 or 30 years, but it's amazing what they can come up with and the funding and you know, it's just obvious the health the the lifestyle and the the healthier the people look out here. It's just it's it's amazing what it can do for the community.

Enough said. No question.

Actually, uh Mr. Chair, I have one followup. Um yeah, Rob, you were talking about, you know, obviously I want I think um the chair was also talking about when we get into town, etc., how we go through, which will not really be determined until the center redevelopment gets planned. But we were talking about sidewalk extensions. One of the things I always point to in terms of sidewalks not getting built um when Paul and I when my wife and I moved to uh Bloomfield 33 years ago, uh on the docket at that time was a sidewalk connecting the sidewalk that ends at the First Congregational Church to what was then the Frank's Plaza uh is now the Geesler's Plaza and has a new Popeye's coming in. Uh, why can't we get the sidewalk completed in front of the the cemetery?

It's ought to be a bike path. Well, or a bike path. I don't care. Why can't we get a multi- Why can't we get a multi-use path connecting those? That is that is a huge gap. And, you know, now we've put in we've put in we're putting in the connector on the other side for, you know, the extension of Philly Park. Unfortunately, we unfort Unfortunately, we planned that before the um the re um the reuse of Alexandria Manor because the sidewalk should go all the way to Alexandria Manor. Um but what are we going to do about the other side? Have Have we put a grant for that in or

I No, I haven't. I haven't. Um you know, it I you know, there's sidewalks on one side of the road. There's a lot of places where there's Yeah, that's that's just making people cross making people cross tungstas road if they're already on the east side to walk on a sidewalk to the west side doesn't even get them to the right place. But there's, you know, there's exclusive crossings. There's exclusive pedestrian phases at both crossing locations. It's it's a safe place to cross at Wintonberry. It's safe to cross at Gistler's now because of the new crossing we we just put in. And and there's a lot of places in town that have no sidewalk. So yeah, but this is an obvious connector.

Well, this would be part of the and and it's been it's been 33 years. I don't I don't you know, I just I I point that out. And could we get that on the list of things to hopefully get done? I'll I'll put it on I'll put it on my list. Okay. I I get should be on there already, honestly. But somebody's got to get run over before we can do that. Yeah. Well, that that that just increases the uh But people do people do use the new sidewalk. I mean, I I see people using it. Yeah. So do I. Yeah. No. And I I It's just that that is such an obvious especially with the new Popeyes, you know. I mean, yeah, it never gets done.

Okay. Oh, and I had one other question because you were talking about the um you know coming uh the chair brought up the issue of actually connecting the greenway where we have it now to town or at least to a temporary location. Um do you know what the um land use request is on the dyke off of Tungstus Avenue? There's a land use, you know, there's a land use uh public hearing sign. This is on the top of the dyke as you go along Tungstus Avenue. Reservoir three. What's that? Reservoir 3. Yes. Oh, there is. I I don't know what it is. Paul and I've driven by it a couple times and we're just wondering

on top of the reservoir. Oh, you know what? I bet it is. I know what it is. It's I think it's um so MDC has a sewer lining project um in in various sections of town to line sewers. you know, they're under they're under EPA order to eliminate infiltration, you know, groundwater infiltration. So, that sign is probably for their um inland wetlands public hearing notice. Yes. Okay. So, it's like MP4 type thing. Is that the thing? The the infiltration keeping the Yep. the II reduction. Yes.

Okay. That that's that makes that makes complete sense. That's that's what that's what it's got to be. Okay. Has anybody else got any questions or new business? Have we missed anything? We should should bring up that I guess I didn't bring up copy of the uh Seabberry um uh notice to the town council where they were Oh, you have a copy of that now? Oh, here it is. Bunch of copies. Sorry. So, uh, what's your name? Your name?

Bill Adamson. You're Bill Adams. Okay. Adamson.

And Adamson. Oh, Adamson. And he is uh with us tonight. And uh we they came with a petition with 70 Sabberry signatures uh to looking for a safe uh safe bicycle and walking uh sidewalks uh from Seabberry into the center of town I think basically and there are two ways of doing that but one way u we would take you know we need a million dollars a mile to go a new way which would be straight into town along on Wenberry. But uh the way that looks best now is u and Rob Tate was saying how along uh School Street uh to go out from Seabberry to the end of the proposed sidewalk to Seabberry. He's going to look into getting that done. So that would give you a way to get uh up to Park Avenue. And then we'll have the east coast greenway going from Park Avenue basically into the center. So that would give you a walk or bike way safe walking or bikeway into the center. And that's the one we probably could afford because uh

not necessarily a bike way, Joe. I think a sidewalk for sure. They they'd be happy with that. Okay. Um, so I I I there everybody's classification but yours it becomes a potential bike way because lots lot safer. I don't think it's even legal to ride a bike on the sidewalk but right by ordinance people are going to do that. So it's safer than being on the road. Yep. Yep. I won't ticket anyone. We we'll give you a range any pardons. The mayor the president's giving away pardons right and left. So I'm sure

uh anyway uh yeah Bob. Yeah I just had a comment on that like uh bringing the sidewalk up up uh school street to Wittenbury as we go p past the uh you call it the land conservation area there. I guess that the town owns that. But yeah,

g getting getting to the idea that wherever we can that that we should we should go uh go 8 foot wide by 2 minutes because it it's actually cheaper than the 5 foot of concrete. Not probably not by a whole lot but some. and uh to to ha to have it in those areas. Uh people would be e easily able to pass and and uh and uh they often as you ride along where where you have a narrowing uh bike path that narrows and widens and narrows and widens uh by by adjusting your speed, you can meet other people in the wide areas. But anyway, it's just just a thought that if if we can when we can to to go whiter, of course, the black top is is self cleaning in the winter time as far as snow is concerned.

So, if that that would be good good suggestion, Rob, if we can do that. Yep. Yep. I'll I'll you know, if I if we can get the funding, you know, we'll we'll look at all the options.

Uh any other questions or comments? I guess uh the I think what you're proposing it sounds very good. Uh I'm just wondering about the other direction on Wittenberry to go to town. Uh there's only a third of a mile where you have to walk on the street. And I was just wondering if there's room to combine that uh with your your suggestion uh so that you could you know you so out of Seabberry and other residents in that area and workers have two choices to go uh and stay off the street because it's it is a lot of traffic on well so school street but there's a lot of traffic on both of those roads. Uh so anyway, I just wonder if there's a way to to include going both ways on Wittenbury. It might be helpful if Seabberry could put a sidewalk in front of Seabberry.

It's a good point. A lot of frontage. A lot of frontage there. We we we missed that point when it was built by not not requiring them to put it require them to do it. Yeah. It's we still could bring it up because of you know this your interest they just did a big addition too and and it was never brought up could have made him do it then actually I think I think you are right we could have made him do to at least that section yeah because we had that and we are using it now the TPC is now using it um yeah just I mean I would I would point that out I think that's a good comment

and um perhaps your petition should also be submitted to the people that run your uh organization that like we need, you know, the residents want this and actually that could be a great collaboration because if the town would be willing to do the other piece and Seabberry would be willing to do its piece, that gives you the complete connection to School Street and it saves the town a lot of money trying to put something in front of Seabberry. So that this this would be the town working together with Seabberry to get that done. I think that I

I I think uh I think you're right that there is a good uh appetite at Seabberry uh to to do this. Uh we got a favorable response to uh our 70 residents signing the petition. Uh the response from the administration of Seesbury was very favorable. Uh and I I know they're very proud that they had donated land across from Seabbury uh to the town for their use. Uh you could look at putting it the sidewalk on that side is longer. See, it's shorter to put the sidewalk on the Seabberry side to the Baptist church. It's only a third of a mile and that would close a gap all the way to the center of town. I And that I think Rob, can you think of that while you're asking them to extend the

Yeah, the the problem with going the other way? So, not even state highway, is it? Well, so, so, um, right now, um, you know, the the route along School Street to Whittenberry Avenue to Seabberry is within our project limits. So, requesting funding for something within our project limits is is, you know, is is acceptable. To go outside our project limits, it becomes a becomes a whole different application. you know, they're going to tell us, you know, submit another application. Don't don't don't add it to this one. Can't add it to this one.

Okay. Well, that becomes something for the future then, but at least we should keep it in my head. A third of a mile is a lot better than I thought it was. It's not that much. But, uh, also, um, I would think if it's a a mile cost a million dollars, a third of a mile probably cost half a million dollars. I don't think there's much possibility of that coming out of the tax taxes right now in Bloomfield. U we all these trails now are being financed through through grants. uh we sometimes we come up with the uh u design cost of design which is we're talking $100,000 or so there but but it's a practical matter with today's situation in politics there's no way we're going to get that in the budget. So so we can get the design in but we can't get the building. So so somehow

they'll have to wait for a grant down the road. I know I know Bob has looked at possibilities of different grants that could have that be applied to uh but I do agree with your suggestion to uh go towards the school street and and close the gap on school street and you could have the sidewalk in front of Seabberry extend to to connect there. Yes, we could have a crossing crossing to uh maybe a street crossing a safe one there. And and if you can tie that to your current uh application, I think that's very attractive. Yeah.

Good. And and I think that um just going back to what Rob pointed out um when that application for Seabberry came before us, which everyone was very favorable on because of what they were doing, um we never even discussed sidewalks because I don't think we I don't think we were aware of the extension up School Street or the desire for there for for there to be sidewalks.

Right. So, I mean, this is one of the things I think everyone who's watched some of the TPZ meetings knows. um we are now getting applications here there and we have this sidewalk requirement and of course the applicant a lot of times goes well there are no other sidewalks. Well, yeah, there aren't now, but but but I and I know you worked with them for the one on um the one that the um people in Northwood are doing doing the Yeah. And they I I commend them because they took your suggestion to add another what 30 feet to get to the uh edge of the firehouse.

Um and I think I think a lot of these people want to be good corporates, you know, they want they want to do things for the town as long as it's reasonable. And uh um so you know the speaking for the TPZ or as one commissioner on the TPZ I think we're going to see more of this but it's important I think it's really important that you and you know this committee the trails committee and DPW and the you know the various people in town staff that are involved including the schools for the kids walking to school and things like that that they have sort of a vision. So, you can point to say, well, yeah, right now there's not a sidewalk here or a multi-use path to do, which is what we'll get because Bob Bob will keep pushing on that. Um, but but we'll have the multi-use path and oh well, why should I put something here? Because there's a multi-use path coming in this way. There's one coming in this way. So, you know, we we really at some point need to go back and sort of come up with a master vision. Maybe not plan, but a vision so that we can point to those things. And I think this is a great example.

One other question I can think of Sharon man brought up um that we have no talking now about the trail over the mountain. going back to that. Uh there is no parking for that and it's a problem because people are going to park and there's no it's not a place on the road there you should park and she brought that up um talking to me about it and I I she suggested one possibility was right across the street in the inside corner of Adams and Hoskins. I think there's some piece there that might be is that the corner I think that's privately owned by

Yeah. But but we also may be able to do some parking on this other this this other trail. That's that's what I'm saying that that maybe that should tie in. Yeah, we all bike paths need parking because people come to them and and and if we get to phase two of that trail which goes down to Terry Planes, you know, sort of comes where Terry Planes there would be parking available. That's the place to park. Yeah. On Terry Planes. Yeah. because this the trail that what we're doing now what it's been but there are a lot of people are going to go over the mountain on just that section of the trail from Adams over the mountain and uh that's where I would go if I wanted to make that park somewhere there

well it will be just down a little further I mean the there okay I just don't let the perfect be the enemy of the you know we got to get something done and we'll figure out but don't don't tell don't tell the Connecticut forests and park people this but I'm guessing bikers will use that trail as well. Yes. And they don't need a place to park. Okay. Maybe bikers like you will use that. Some bikers. How's that? Some of those street bikers won't. Okay. Anybody else have any other business? Any public comments? Uh,

may I Thank you. Thank you, Joe. And thank you for letting me speak. I I need you all to know that I'm not a face you see very often. I'm speaking for your friend and mine's Sharon Man, who I'm happy to say is in Hawaii with her family, a well-deserved vacation. And um I'm going to read something that Sharon wrote, but I want to make it very clear that Sharon is not the only person who thinks this. She just happens to be the person who expressed it beautifully. I know that Libby Mero and Ruth Anne MarQuetti believe it as well. And please allow me to address you. Dear member, this is Sharon now. Dear members of the Dear members of the trail committee, I'm writing to respectfully recommend that the town of Bloomfield formally recognize Councelor Joseph Merritt for his extraordinary contributions to our community and in particular for his visionary advocacy on behalf of Trails and Greenways. I father I further propose that the Bloomfield portion of the East Coast Greenway be named the Merit Bikeway in his honor. Councelor Merritt's service to Bloomfield is unparalleled. With more than 37 years on the town council, the longest tenure in the town's history, he has demonstrated unwavering dedication to good governance, public safety, and community well-being. Over the decades, he has served on and chaired numerous critical bodies, including the police building committee, the library renovation building committee, and the West Hartford Bloomfield Health District, where he served as chairman from 204 to 208 after years of prior service. Of revalence I can read. I really can. Of relevance to this committee is councelor Merritt's

leadership in trail development and greenway planning. As early as 2005, he personally surveyed and documented the potential route of the east coast greenway through Bloomfield, laying important groundwork for what has become a vital regional and local asset. His appointment as chair of the trails committee reflected both his commitment and his foresight. In 215, his efforts were recognized statewide when he received the Connecticut Greenways Council Special Achievement Award. Beyond town government, Councelor Merritt's background reflects a lifetime of service and leadership. He's a veteran of the United States Navy serving as lieutenant in special operations. He's a graduate of Dartmouth College with a degree in government and earned a master's degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Joe's professional career includes founding and managing a small manufacturing company in Bloomfield, senior leadership roles in industry and nearly two decades as an enrolled agent, sorry, tax preparer serving our local residents. Excuse me. Bear with me. Counselor Merritt's service to Bloomfield is unparalleled. Oh, I already did that. I apologize. Here we are. The East Coast Greenway represents connectivity, stewardship of the land, and a commitment to future generations. Values that counselor Merritt has embodied throughout his public life. Naming the Bloomfield section of the Merit Bike the Merit Bikeway would be a fitting and lasting tribute to his vision, persistence, and service to our town. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this recommendation and for your continued work on behalf of Bloomfield's trails

and open spaces. respectfully submitted Sharon man. And let me add that I am in full support of this recommendation and I ask that you let us know how best we can move this idea forward because we would really like to see this happen in Joe's lifetime. So, thank you for listening to me and to Sharon.

And thank you Sharon and Ruthanne. That that's very flattering. I really appreciate it, I guess. And uh I I this naming something after somebody I think I I I told Sharon that when she brought up with me. And of course I'd be very very proud and very fired to have this done. Um to have the greenway named after me. We want we want to see you here to break ground when that name is put up. So be strongly supportive. We do.

Yes. Thank you. And I would like guidance. Um, I promised Sharon that I would not just read the letter, but say, "What do we do next? We need some guidance and and Kevin and Joe, you know, you two know your way around council and how things work. I'm hoping that you can help us with this because we plan, we are we are only well, Libby is on this, too. We have so many people who've talked about this for so long. We really want to make it happen." Well, the town manager is the next step. And I

Okay. gave him a heads up that Sharon had spoken about it and uh I even suggested that it might go through the CEC instead of this committee because it's kind of embarrassing for me to do that. Um uh I um wait there is a problem because naming things has become a real political issue in town. Oh, don't you know it. And I I have to say you that I was on that committee with Dave Mlesco and Mr. Harris. So I remember what we agreed on, but I also remember that we've changed that since then. So the president's already broken just Oh, you're talking about being somebody being alive. Yeah.

Well, there's been problems since then. That that wasn't a problem. Uh Mr. Harris got his. We had to fight to get that done because that became a political issue. But then after that, the Joe Suggs issue came up and that still hasn't been resolved and we have to name something after him which I I was actually talking to the town manager about accomplishing. But this has all become a hot potato. So I nothing is going to happen in the short term, but I appreciate it and I think the next step is to send that letter to the town manager.

Thank you. And I want I just want you to know that I I I don't mean to be glib in any way, but I find it hard to imagine anybody who could look at the work you've done, Joe, and not agree with us on this. And and it shouldn't be in your lap to worry about it. I'm going to ask Kevin to guide me so that you don't that's embarrassing for you to have to do it. And we we are going to push. So you just sit back, Mr. Merritt. Thank you. I'll assist in any way I can as well. Thank you, Councelor Waterhouse. And I I will certainly take that, but um the chair of the CC wants to say a word.

I do. Um and I also want to say a word as a member of the parks and recreation committee because Sharon came to us and brought it up and we said, "We think it's a wonderful idea, but have you asked Joe?" Yes, she. So, I'm glad she has. That's good. So, um I'm sure the parks and recreation committee would be pleased to add our support because we think it's a fine idea and the CEC would as well. I will venture. So, so just want to say that

the next step is the town manager. He knows it's coming. So, but that's where it has to land. He's got a full plate right now. So I don't think he'll do anything very quickly, but u he is he is the one that has to do it and he will. I mean I want I want to thank you all for your time and I must say sitting here in my comfortable living room watching how hard you all work. I I thank you for the many weeks and the many hours you you give to our town. Take care. Thank you. Take care. Good night everybody. Good night, Joe. And uh would like we adjourn the motion to adjurnn. Yes.

So moved or seconded. Okay. Hey, thank you counselor