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04/09/2015 10:48 AMLike most Connecticut towns, Guilford’s roads were hit hard by the severe winter storms, and the town is preparing to make repairs.
“The roads are looking pretty bad—just like other towns,” said First Selectman Joseph Mazza. “We’re looking at a lot of work through the spring and summer.”
Most of the work will entail repairing potholes and curbs, but there are other improvements in the works. Mazza noted that a lot of the attention has been focused on the coastal roads over the past several years, but now the inland roads will also be examined.
While budget talks begin well before the winter season, the Town of Guilford has been planning for road repairs and reconstruction over the past few years, as well as enhancing the snow-removal budget after the storms of recent winters.
Mazza, whose term started in December 2009, had helped to lead an effort to replace the town’s aging equipment, particularly the equipment at public works.
“Now that our fleet is up to snuff, the focus is on repair and infrastructure,” said Mazza. “For years the town was strapped for money and road improvement wasn’t on the radar, but now that the new equipment is here, we’re handling major road repair.”
Question 3 in the town’s upcoming budget referendum, which will be held on Tuesday, April 21, pertains to road repairs, asking “Shall the Town of Guilford appropriate $1,280,000 for costs related to the town’s Inland Road Reconstruction and Improvements Program – Phase I and the acquisition of a Public Works Department grader, and issue bonds and notes in the same amount to finance the appropriation?”
“Because of the severe winter, we’ll have a lot more to do,” said Mazza. “I hope this budget gets passed so we can focus on areas that we couldn’t address for years due to other financial restrictions.”