CLARKSBURG -- Over a year after Tropical Storm Irene made the East Road bridge impassable, work is under way to replace it.
Carl McKinney, chairman of the Selectmen, said Wednesday night that demolition of the bridge -- which is essentially a culvert -- started this week, and the installation of the replacement culvert is scheduled for the week of Oct. 8.
"Things are moving right along," he said.
Meanwhile, Foresight Land Services, of Pittsfield, is working on a notice of intent to present to the Conservation Commission for replacement of the Gates Avenue culvert, he said.
Town Administrator Thomas Webb said he and McKinney had been talking about replacing the gabion wall protecting a public sewer line that runs along the culvert with a more permanent concrete wall. The gabion wall, which is made out of wire and rocks, was installed about four years ago after the sewer line ruptured during a storm.
"The gabion wall was meant to be a temporary fix until we could permanently fix the bridge," McKinney said. "We don't want to come back to this in one, two, three or five years from now, so let us see what it costs."
Currently, the project is costing the town $274,276.05.
The Selectmen also unanimously agreed to sign a declaration of support for mosquito control after consulting the Board of Health.
Gregory Vigna, chairman of the Board of Health, said the board recommended the town sign the declaration
Vigna said that for the town, the Berkshire Mosquito Project has traditionally just place liquid larvicide in catch basins, some big culverts and some areas prone to standing water. The Board of Health will have a discussion later this fall and into the winter evaluating the town's options for mosquito control going forward, he said.
Both McKinney and Selectman Jeffrey Levanos said they were concerned about the spraying of adulticide if it ever had to be done.
"I don't like the thought of them spraying, but I understand what we're up against," McKinney said.
In other business, the Selectmen:
* Reviewed a letter from Berkshire Enviro-Labs about testing of the wells at the senior center and elementary school being done by a third party due to the company losing its water-testing certification from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
* Were updated on a Sept. 13 Massachusetts Land Court case in which Berkshire Metal Spinning and Stamping on River Road agreed to pay all fees to the town to retain ownership of its building on River Road. McKinney said the fees totaled about $24,000.
* Learned that a per court order, Verizon New England will receive a tax abatement from the town for $2,297.45 for being taxed for its telephone poles since 2009. McKinney said he would expect Verizon to reimburse its local customers for the property tax recovery charge it has been including as part of its bills for the past three years.
To reach Meghan Foley, email
mfoley@thetranscript.com.
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