another News article

Grant will allow for final phase of Back Bay reconstruction project

Kerry O'Brien News Staff Writer TEMPLETON — The town has been awarded $538,272 through the state Community Development Block Grant program to complete the final phase of the Back Bay reconstruction project and to hire an additional outreach worker for the senior center. “We’re about to begin the final phase,” said Town Administrator Jeffrey Ritter. The final phase of construction will include Memorial Street roadway, sidewalk, drainage and water improvements. With Phase 5 wrapping up this summer, Phase 6 will begin in the fall for an estimated completion date of July 2014. The CDBG grant will pay for a portion of the work, while the Annual Town Meeting approved kicking in up to $125,000 out of the Chapter 90 funding from the state. The entirety of the Back Bay reconstruction project includes 11 streets and was completed over 11 years of work with the support of $4.5 million in town monies and six community development block grant awards. The senior outreach worker will oversee the work of the newly hired Council on Aging director, a position which was approved by the town two years ago but never funded. The grant will pay for the employee’s salary for a year and a half. Mr. Pingpank performs grant writing work for the town, as they do not have the funding for a economic development coordinator. Mr. Ritter stated that since there won’t be other projects once Back Bay is complete, he is currently in discussion with Mr. Pingpank about future projects which he could aid the town with. “There is no plan for a next step yet, but a discussion has started and we have some ideas we’re talking about,” Mr. Ritter said. Mr. Pingpank said he’s received inquires about projects in the Otter River area, Templeton center, and other parts of Baldwinville. The Board of Selectmen will ultimately make the decision of what projects will be conducted moving forward, however Mr. Pingpank and Mr. Ritter will present the options. “There are numerous projects in town worthy of funding, but what we want to do is find the one that will have the biggest impact on the low to moderate-income population in town,” Mr. Pingpank said. “The success of the Back Bay project has definitely pushed most conversation towards finding a similar multi-phase project that can have a real stabilizing impact on the neighborhood/community.”