The Halifax Board of Selectmen also met with the Planning Board regarding real estate developments that had been started but the roads never completed – these included Sherwood Drive, Pasture Lane, and Delia Way. Planning Board member Amy L. Troup explained the issues and Steve Hayward handed out photos of Pasture Lane. “Those pictures there, the whole development, the town got part of the bond back but if you look at those pictures where they finished isn’t really finished. There’s some places where the sidewalk has like 2 to 3 inches where they never back-filled; the islands are a complete mess, I don’t know who is going to take care of those,” Hayward said. He did say that the drainage issue appeared to be fixed. Regarding strictly the drainage issue, Bruno said that having conferred with both the Planning Board and the Highway Surveyor, the consensus was that it was fixed.
Gordon Andrews said that he believed that the Planning Board was asking Selectmen to call the bond in so that they could finish the base coat. “The issue the residents are bringing up is the road isn’t completed – the developer hasn’t followed through so you need to call the bond in so the work can be done,” Andrews explained. Bruno said that the only complaint that has been brought to them was the drainage. Bruno did move that the Planning Board ask Town Counsel the right procedures to follow for calling the bond for the Sherwood Drive extension.
The Building Inspector spoke to the myriad of issues that the developer needs to fixon Pasture Lane. “He needs to repair any of the binder that is in disrepair… topcoat the road according to specifications… install sidewalks, loom and seed the area, clean out the detention basin… there’s a safety grate that needs to go on that basin… install bounds along the driveway,” Perry said. Bruno said, “I did drive that road, it’s a mess.”
Finally, they discussed issues with Delia Way. Bruno said that there was a collapse on that road that was fixed over the past weekend. Bruno read a letter from several residents on that street saying, “request appropriate action be taken to correct safety issues that are caused by deterioration on the metal plates on the five manholes which led to the collapse of one of the plates on December 31.” They also asked that the town expedite getting the road accepted formally. Hayward said that the problems were not limited to the manholes saying that the sidewalks were not wide enough among other issues. Hayward noted that they are stuck not being able to properly fix the issues saying, “we are not supposed to spend money on a non-accepted road.” Hayward did say they plow the unaccepted streets for safety reasons.
Delia Way resident Michael Chapin said he was walking his dog on Dec. 31 when he saw an 18 inch hole that had been created. Another resident noted the 18 inch hole is also 4-5 ft deep. “It’s a serious safety issue,” he told the Selectmen. “I’ll move that the Planning Board get in touch with Town Counsel to begin the process of foreclosing on the lot or selling it or whatever needs to be done to secure enough funds to finish that road,” Bruno said. Selectmen voted unanimously to move Bruno’s motion. Selig requested that photos of the holes be sent to the developer reminding them that they are still legally bound due to the bond, particularly if an emergency were to arise.