At the heart of the meeting was the discussion around the Trails Committee’s application for funding the construction of elevated boardwalks at Trail. The project is planned in two phases, with the first phase encompassing wetland delineation, surveying, permitting, and geotechnical services at an estimated cost of $62,500. The second phase is aimed at preliminary design and incidentals, with a budget projection of $86,000. Members of the committee evaluated potential funding avenues, including grants from Mass Trails, the Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Fund, and the Park Acquisition and Innovations for Communities.

The committee underscored the importance of managing the project’s phases effectively, with a keen eye on securing grants and mitigating the effects of inflation on costs. Concerns were raised regarding the shelf life of the engineering services and the possibility that delays could necessitate redoing certain project components. A proposed project schedule was presented, detailing anticipated funding, contracting, and grant application timelines.

In alignment with the boardwalk initiative, the committee also discussed a separate but related project to build a boardwalk along the Taunton River. The estimated timeline for this project spans approximately five years, with preliminary design costs set at $148,000 and a note that construction costs could potentially triple. The allocation of funds between open space, recreation, and conservation was a point of contention, particularly in light of the sensitivity of the resource area and the necessity for a peer review during the engineering study phase.

The committee addressed the potential for the project site to lie within a National Heritage Wildlife habitat area, which would bring into play a myriad of regulations and considerations such as wetlands, flood zones, tributaries, and buffer zones. The involvement of various agencies, depending on the project’s location, was also a topic of debate. Additionally, the necessity of conducting a wetlands delineation was questioned by some, while others stressed its importance for understanding the interconnections between the area’s wetlands.

The financial scope of trail projects was another subject of discussion, with cost estimates ranging from $1 million to $1.5 million per mile. The committee underscored the potential need for additional funding and the importance of a timely approach to seeking grants. A proposal was also reviewed for the introduction of a new project sign, and the committee considered holding an annual public meeting in conjunction with their main meeting.

Furthermore, the committee touched upon the amendment of a sign at the library. The Historical Commission’s application for eligibility was addressed, with emphasis on the importance of documenting and identifying historical properties within the town. Discussions also veered towards the creation of local historic districts and architectural preservation areas to safeguard historic properties.

The meeting concluded with considerations for the allocation of funds for clerical, professional, and communication purposes, with suggestions regarding the potential reallocation of funds to prioritize community housing. The committee also discussed drafting warrant articles for upcoming projects, emphasizing the necessity to align the language in the articles with their applications.