Politics & Government

Let the Paving Begin

The Hamden Legislative Council recently approved several million dollars to go toward paving town roads and reconstructing sidewalks during the current fiscal year

 

It almost didn't happen, but at the last moment the Legislative Council approved allocating $3.5 million in capital funds for road repaving, reconstruction and sidewalk improvement for this fiscal year.

The money was part of the larger capital budget but was pulled out as a separate item on the council's monthly agenda. But the item was tabled and the meeting was about the be ajourned without it being brought up again.

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But literally within seconds of the meeting ajourning, Councilman Austin Cesare made a motion to bring the item off the table and the council unanimously voted to approve the spending without any discussion.

Chief Administrative Officer Curt Balzano Leng said there isn't yet a list of roads that would be paved. That list is now being compiled, he said.

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To get any paving done this year, the money needed to be approved as soon as possible because the asphalt plants close for the winter around Thanksgiving unless the weather remains unseasonably warm.

With the funds, the town will repave more roads this fiscal year than it has in at least the last 10 years, Leng said.

The town also has undertaken an ambitious sidewalk replacement program that will be expanded using some of the approved funds. 


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