RUMFORD — Sidewalks on one side of Congress Street will be redone in concrete sometime this summer. The bricks will also be taken out.
After a discussion Thursday night with Public Works Superintendent Andy Russell, selectmen voted 3-1 for concrete rather than asphalt. Selectmen Chairman Greg Buccina was the lone dissenter.
Town Manager Carlo Puiia said that although the Public Works capital improvement plan had already been approved, they want to do some work on the sidewalks.
Puiia said more can be done with asphalt than with concrete.
“However, we’re talking the business district and there are those that believe concrete lasts longer and looks better,” he said.
Russell, who said he favors asphalt instead of concrete when asked by Selectman Brad Adley, shared the positive and negative sides of each.
Puiia said concrete means more maintenance and expenses and more man-hours than asphalt, for which a machine is used to lay it down.
Selectman Jolene Lovejoy wanted to know the cost difference between the two.
“I think it was last year that we approved some funding to do some repairs to sidewalks on the island, because I think people in wheelchairs were having issues, or just people walking around,” Lovejoy said.
“We have a responsibility to have things look the best we can afford, and if that’s asphalt, then so be it.”
Adley asked Russell about the durability of each material.
Russell said both concrete and asphalt crack over time, but a crack sealer can be used with asphalt, which is cheaper to maintain. Additionally, he said asphalt holds up better than concrete with salt that’s put down in the winter.
Selectman Jeff Sterling said that because most buildings on the downtown island are period buildings from the turn of the last century, cement should be used to keep the historical ambience intact.
When asked how many sidewalks Russell wants to redo, he said he’d like to do them all, but would probably end up doing half of them. The work would start in late June to early July.
Lovejoy asked if they could do that half all on one side.
To answer her question and Buccina’s about the cost difference, Russell said they would put down 3 inches of asphalt or 4 inches of concrete, but the asphalt would cost a little more.
Lovejoy motioned for concrete and it was seconded.
Russell said he plans to get rid of the bricks used in the sidewalks.
“It may cost more in the long run for labor with concrete, so I think asphalt would be better,” Buccina said.
The board voted after learning the currently deteriorating sidewalks were installed in 1981.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a paint bid of $3,923.45 from Sherwin Williams of Rumford for Public Works and a bid of $97,850 from Knox Loam & Gravel of Rumford for gravel and winter sand.
Selectmen also OK’d donating money from the $38,843.95 in cable TV franchise fees to the Fourth of July Committee for fireworks. This happened after the board approved giving WVAC-TV 7 $28,843.95.
Two committee members made a pitch for the remaining $10,000. They also plan to charge $1 for admission at the gate for Rumford’s Fourth of July celebration and hope to pay the $10,000 back.
Buccina abstained from voting because he is on the committee. Lovejoy motioned to approve the $10,000; it was seconded.
When it came for a vote, Sterling, who is also on the committee, abstained, killing the motion due to the lack of a quorum.
Lovejoy motioned for $9,999.99 and it was seconded. This time it was approved as Sterling voted for it.
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