The Borough’s Plans For Sidewalks

To The Editor:

As the chairman of the Sidewalk Committee for the Borough of Newtown I would like to respond to Mr Viola’s letter of December 17,1999 regarding Newtown’s “frivolous” use of Bomanite in a recent sidewalk project.

The Board of Burgess for the Borough of Newtown is committed to annually replacing sections of sidewalks on Main Street that have deteriorated and have presented hazards to pedestrians. Bomanite, patterned concrete that is colored and resembles bluestone, has been chosen as the medium we shall use on all future projects on Main Street. Given the historical setting of our Mains Street, we feel that aesthetic value and durability that this project offers warrants the financial upcharge from conventional concrete.

The use of Bomanite in Newtown is not without precedent. A 300-foot section of this material was first installed on the southwest section of Main Street in 1991. Most recently, it was selected by the Board of Managers of the Edmond Town Hall to replace the original bluestone in front of the Town Hall that had deteriorated beyond repair. The Newtown Savings Bank has installed a large section in front of their recently completed buildings. This year’s restoration of the sidewalk at 48 Main Street and future Main Street projects will be paid by the taxpayers of the Borough of Newtown and available State funds.

Our larger project we refer to as “the loop.” The scope of this project includes the installation of conventional concrete sidewalks on Glover Avenue, north on Queen Street and west on Church Hill Road. This will tie into the walk system of Main Street. The Town of Newtown has spent $10,200 on an engineering study of this project. It is estimated to cost $200,000. The borough is seeking a majority of its funding of this project through the Town of Newtown. The project is currently listed on the town’s capital improvement program. We are optimistic that we will be in a position to put this project to bid within 12 months, but that remains largely in the hands of the Legislative Council and whether they consider this as much a priority as we do.

The Borough of Newtown enters the 21st Century with a modest network of sidewalks. Our committee shall continue to work towards making the center of our town a safer place for all of us to enjoy. If you would like to join our effort of if you have any questions or concerns, I would encourage you to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jay Maher, Burgess, Borough of Newtown

PO Box 164, Newtown                 December 20,1999