Bridge Grant not on first cut list, but wait-listed

Hi,

Mike Soraghan, Town Engineer,  heard from the State today that North Reading DPW's grant application to replace the Rt 62 bridge was not recommended for initial funding, but was put on the waitlist should FEMA provide additional funds for this year's applicants.

 

This is disappointing news.  However, I spoke to our contact at DCR today and there is still a glimmer of hope for this year's FEMA award amount to increase because final tabulations are still coming in of costs for last year's Mother's Day Flood.  Within a month we will know if there was any additional funding and whether our project will be recommended on a supplemental list.

 

According to our contact,  this is "a very strong project" and they had tough decisions to make this year.  They had roughly $12 million in funds requested and $3.3 million to give out.  $4.4 million dollars worth of projects are on the waitlist - hoping for additional funding.  We are on that list and there is no official priority.  Over $4 million dollars in projects were denied.

 

We are getting closer, and I am confident that both Benevento's culvert and the bridge at Rt 62 will be replaced.  Wilmington's written support and Charlie Benevento's commitment were important steps achieved thanks to the persistence of Mike Soraghan and Paul Cameron.

 

We simply will not give up.   

 

Thank you to all of you who wrote letters of support and made calls.  We may need them again, because if we don't get it this year...WE'LL BE BACK!

 

Janet Nicosia

Co-Chair

Martins Pond Association

Martins Pond Reclamation Study Committee

 

 

Save the dates 6/21 & 7/14

Hi everyone.

 

Summer is coming! We have two Summer events coming up:

 

Summer Solstice Concert at Clarke Park Thursday June 21st 6:30-8PM.  No admission, no sales, just bring your picnic dinner and blanket or chair and enjoy an 18 piece ensemble courtesy of the North Reading Community Band.  Park your boat esplanade-style.  Bring some charcoal and use the new barbeque being installed this week.  We hope some of you hard working volunteers will come enjoy the park you've worked so hard to create, along with everyone else.  A cheap date!

 

Martins Pond Children's Fishing Derby Saturday July 14th, 8-11AM, with free lunch for participants and their families afterwards.  This is also a free event, with trophies and prizes awarded, courtesy of the Wildside Bass Club and Mass Bass Federation and all our great sponsors. 

 

See you around the pond. 

 

Janet Nicosia