Marblehead sidewalk plan likely on hold

MARBLEHEAD – Selectmen will recommend indefinite postponement on Selectman William Woodfin’s $750,000 sidewalk repair program at the May 3 Town Meeting.Wednesday night’s vote, taken before selectmen met with the Finance Committee to discuss the sidewalk article, was unanimous but it was only supported by four board members – Selectman Judy Jacobi, who made the motion, Selectmen James Nye and Harry Christensen and Selectmen Chairman Jackie Belf-Becker.Woodfin did not attend the 20-minute meeting where the motion was discussed. Jacobi said she was unable to reach him to discuss her motion before the meeting.The repairs would correct damage caused by tree roots.Woodfin’s original motion to place the plan before the voters was contingent on town officials coming up with a prioritized plan for the repairs. The town currently spends $10,000-$15,000 a year for sidewalk repairs, but Woodfin wanted that program accelerated. "This really is a walking town," he said.Jacobi said she met with Tree Warden Douglas Gordon, Director of Public Works Dana Snow and Assistant Director of Public Works David Donahue, who will assume Snow’s duties next week."They all agreed that the sidewalks are in bad shape and even $750,000 isn’t enough," she said. However, they asked Jacobi for more time to prioritize the sidewalk repairs and said they could come up with a plan next year.Before voting in favor of Woodfin’s original motion Feb. 3, Jacobi suggested naming a study committee to examine the problem and come up with a plan for the 2011 Town Meeting.She and Christensen pointed out that Town Meeting will be faced with several debt exclusion items this year, including the Pleasant Street traffic upgrade, the transfer station replacement and the Glover-Eveleth School construction.