Taking of Property Concerns Neighbors Related to Willow St. Bridge Project

What some Town officials likely believed would be a cut and dry vote on the Willow Street Bridge project became a bout of concern for several members of the general public this week.

Speaking before the Board of Selectmen Tuesday evening, Town Engineer Tony Del Gaizo outlined the third step in the plan to work on the bridge, which involves an Order of Taking for the layout of Fisher and South Streets.

Del Gaizo previously appeared before the board on June 8 to say that the state-mandated project would allow for easements after renovation and that some of those easements backed into the Fisher St. property of Needham homeowner Theresa Ebel. That land, he said, would have to be taken by the Town of Needham.

"It's a very narrow strip of land and we had an appraisal done," he said at the time. "The amount is $5,000 in damages that the town would have to pay."

Damages are likely to occur in a "significant garden" that Ebel owns, according to Del Gaizo. Work on the bridge is due to begin this season and continue for around 18 months.

Ebel was on hand Tuesday, along with neighbors Bill Rainer and Dr. Gretchen Frauenberger. All three told Town officials present that they were not aware of the exact start date and were originally told that work would begin in summer of 2011. Rainer went to bat for Ebel, in particular, saying that he was concerned about her property and that he was not aware of "the scope of the project."

Selectman Dan Matthews attempted to quell Rainer's fears by saying that the project was a "multi-staged process. All that's on the agenda tonight is to deal with a small, but necessary taking."

"I'm not against replacing anything on the bridge," Rainer stated. "My only concern is Terri Ebel, who is the person directly affected by this."

Ebel told Del Gaizo and Department of Public Works Director Rick Merson, who was also present, that her main concern was a project start date. "It's very important that we know this," she said, to which Rainer replied that he would not like to see the vote take place on this night until Ebel was comfortable with what was taking place.

"This (project) has been moved up a year from the Dover meeting I attended," said Frauenberger, referencing the fact that the Town of Dover shares part of the bridge and is also affected by the project.

Del Gaizo stated that the date had been moved up by State officials and that the Town sent out notices to residents.

"What's here in front of us tonight is a very small piece of the overall project," Matthews reiterated. "I don't see any reason to stop this vote tonight and we don't want to incur extra costs, but if the public has concerns, maybe something can be organized to find answers."

Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick volunteered that an informational session with the general public could be created in the near future.

Frauenberger again stated that the news of construction taking place this summer was the first she had heard.

"The state has notified neighbors," Del Gaizo said. "This is actually their project, they just asked that we address the right of way issue."

Rainer was incredulous, though, relating to officials that "as a neighborhood, we have no idea what's going on."

Once more, Matthews said that the vote on this evening had little to do with the overall scope of the project.

"This is a very narrow vote related to taking; there is no other role tonight in the process," he said. "We will try to have a neighborhood meeting to address concerns."

The motion to take the sliver of property, as it is referred to in Town documents, passed unanimously.