Article 8. Debt Exclusion for Road Maintenance

ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not to exceed $27,500,000 (Twenty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand dollars), to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager, for the costs to fund the Town’s Five-Year Road Maintenance Program, including, without limitation, the costs of engineering, design, site preparation, construction, landscaping, paving, traffic signalization improvements, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and all other costs incidental or related thereto; to determine whether this appropriation shall be raised by borrowing or otherwise; that to meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, is authorized to borrow $27,500,000, or any other sum, under and pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws c. 44, §7(1), or pursuant to any other enabling authority; provided, however, that this vote shall not take effect until the Town votes to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Mass. Gen. Laws. c.59, § 21C (Proposition 2½) amounts required to pay the principal of and interest on the borrowing authorized by this vote; or take any other action relative thereto.

Article Explanation

Concord Public Works has developed a comprehensive and strategic investment plan to address the town's road improvement and pedestrian safety needs. By investing approximately $5.5M per year over the next five years, the Town will recover from a decade of underfunding of pavement management associated with our roads and sidewalks, while providing for complimentary safety elements for pedestrians and cyclists. The goal for the 5-year frontloading of investment is to achieve a higher condition of pavement which can then be maintained at this condition with a more predictable and sustainable annual spending plan thereafter.

Article Motion

Mr. Weber moves that the Town appropriate the sum of $27,500,000 (Twenty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand ‎dollars), to be expended under the direction of the Town Manager, for the costs to fund the ‎Town’s Five-Year Road Maintenance Program, including, without limitation, the costs of ‎engineering, design, site preparation, construction, landscaping, paving, traffic signalization ‎improvements, and pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and all other costs incidental or related ‎thereto; and to ‎meet this appropriation the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, is authorized to ‎borrow $27,500,000, under and pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws c.44, §7(1), or ‎pursuant to any other enabling authority; provided, however, that this vote shall not take effect ‎until the Town votes to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Mass. Gen. Laws. ‎c.59, § 21C (Proposition 2½) amounts required to pay the principal of, and interest on the ‎borrowing authorized by this vote.‎