MACHIAS, Maine — The Machias Revitalization Committee believes the poor condition of sidewalks in town should be addressed.
“We are requesting that we have funding for an engineering study to address the sidewalks and parking downtown,” committee member April Adams told the selectmen at their meeting Wednesday.
She offered more information from a prepared statement.
“The unsafe condition of sidewalks, inadequate or improperly placed crosswalks, curbing that is too high, difficult parking and insufficient lighting — that all impeded development — were the primary issues,” she said. “The area of consideration basically stretched from the beginning of the brick sidewalk, in front of Burnham Tavern on Colonial Way to just before Bar Harbor Bank and Trust.”
However, her request for funding was not supported by everyone and even came as a surprise to some.
Machias Town Manager Christina Therrien, who is also a member of the revitalization committee, said she was unaware the committee was planning to ask the town for money. She thought the plan was to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to cover the costs of the engineering study.
Committee member Sharon Mack said she had been under the same impression as Therrien.
“I think there’s confusion among committee members,” she said.
Aubrey “Skip” Carter, chairman of the selectmen, asked Adams how much an engineering study would cost.
Adams estimated $6,000 but said she wasn’t sure.
Selectman James Whalen said he supports revitalization but this presentation seemed to be “not coherent.”
He said he would like to see a written statement about what the engineering study would encompass.
“What is the scope of work? You’ve got to define it,” he said.
Carter agreed and asked Adams to get together with other committee members and further define what they sought.