The Town of Webb Board met on Tuesday, January 14, for its regular monthly meeting in Old Forge, where it discussed and took action on the following.
• The Adirondack Commu-nity Housing Trust has requested that the board allow a presentation in the Town of Webb, that would explain how the group can assist with home purchases. Emily Kilburn, a representative, said potential grant assistance is available for down payments, closing costs, and/or repairs for homebuyers in the community.
• The board resolved to adopt a Complete Streets approach to design and construction of streets, bridges or other portions of the Town of Webb’s transportation network when feasible, would allow additional funding eligibility.
Recognized by New York State, Complete Streets design principles apply to sidewalks, paved shoulders suitable for cycling, designated bike lanes, lane striping, road signage, crosswalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian crossing signage.
They also apply to traffic calming measures, such as curb bump-outs, center islands, pavement markings, sidewalk snow removal, routine shoulder and bike lane maintenance.
The goal is to enhance pedestrian and bicycle trail connections within neighborhoods and hamlet centers.
According to Nick Rose, executive director of CAP-21, Complete Streets principles were developed by the federal government.
• The Town of Webb Board retroactively appointed Russell Brombacher as a part-time patrol officer for the Town of Webb Police Department, for a 2014 term starting January 1st.
Brombacher will serve until his retirement. He has notified the board and this will take place on January 19, 2014.
The board extended its appreciation and thanks to Brombacher for his years of service to the Town of Webb.
• Old Forge’s Fred Trimbach urged the Town of Webb board to consider a more pedestrian- and snowmobile-friendly means of crossing the Route 28 bridge that traverses the Moose River at Thendara.
During the winter season, the sidewalk portion of the bridge is left uncleared of snow, to assist snowmobiles traveling while avoiding automotive traffic.
The arrangement amounts to a tight squeeze for both snowmobiles and pedestrians, who share the snow-covered walk.
According to Councilman Mike Ross, the town has discussed widening the bridge with the New York State Department of Transportation, who has jurisdiction of the state road.
The cost that the town would be required to bear, was prohibitive, Ross said.
Trimbach suggested designing an attached walkway structure that might have less of a load requirement than the main bridge. This could possibly be done at less cost, he said.
Councilwoman Kate Russell said she agreed with Trimbach, that the current set-up is hardly ideal.
She added that she was willing to examine any alternatives that might improve the situation for snowmobilers, pedestrians and motorists.
• Councilwoman Mary Brophy-Moore urged her fellow board members to consider bolstering the signage presence on the Thendara side of the TOBIE Bridge across the Moose River. She explained that the current signs are potentially inadequate in communicating snowmobile traffic and other restrictions.
Supervisor Ted Riehle and Snowmobile Department Head, Tim Pylman, said they would improve the situation.