Town of Owego meeting report Tuesday 7-19-2011

Re: Bolles Hill Road Bridge – Town of Owego meeting report

I went to the Owego meeting Tuesday 7-19-2011

Summary

Town of Owego meeting - 14 Bolles Hill Residents there to request Town of Owego support for the construction of the permanent Bolles Hill Road Bridge. 

Don Castellucci discussed the actions he took to contact Mr. Sames PA DEP to lobby for leaving in the current culvert.  He also discussed many other competing priority projects as result of the spring flooding.

Little Meadows Mayor Vivian Noavk and Little Meadows Councilman Ralph Aspling came to the meeting to explain the Little Meadows situation and answer questions.  Vivian stated that the Borough loan for the bridge had been approved.  They discussed the endless options they have tried and are down to looking for help from Town of Owego.  They discussed the limited resources and small population base as the primary reason they are seeking additional funding. 

Many of the Bolles Hill residents spoke to the Town’s past support and requested help once again to assure that there is no further disruption to replacement of the bridge.  There was much discussion on the history of mutual cooperation and support between the Town of Owego and Little Meadows in the past.

We made the case that leaving in the existing temporary culvert is not a viable option, that this is the time construct the permanent bridge and we cannot miss this opportunity.  I asked that we could have a decision by the next meeting.  This would provide the residents a little time to raise the funds from private individual donations to cover the $10,000 required.  I also stated that I would send an email with a PDF file of Penn DOT drawing of the proposed new bridge.

Don Castellucci Town Supervisor and town Council will hold an executive work session July 28^th to work on the Little Meadows funding request to determine the response.  Mr. Casstellucci and the Town Council will have their response for the August 2^nd Town of Owego meeting.

Steve Czarnecki expressed appreciation to the board for their support in the past and recommended that when they look at this request they look at it in a wider scope of the entire network of roads and bridges that serve Bolles Hill. 

Residents felt optimistic after the meeting for the positive response from Don Castellucci and felt positive for possible future support from the Town of Owego. 

However – many discussed after the meeting in the parking lot alternative plans or alternative approaches to solving the problem.  Anything - from pledges, approaching Little Meadows businesses, funding raising and private donations.