| I read with interest your front page article on the defeat of Hampden's override. I was one of the people who voted for it, having been convinced by Mr. Pixley that Hampden's roads and drainage systems were in urgent need of repair. In your article, however, I learned that the town of Hampden is eligible to apply for a Chapter 90 grant from the state worth $160,000. Mr. Pixley said that he had not applied for the money because he was awaiting the outcome of the override vote. The Chapter 90 money, he now says, will pay for one of the projects that would have been paid for by the $4 million override. Mr. Pixley seems to be saying that had he won the override he would not need to apply for the $160,000. This outrages me. I am aware that some people in Hampden believe that the town government is not active enough in soliciting money from the state. This inaction by Mr. Pixley seems to confirm it. Dr. Robert Butler Hampden Clarification In a Reminder story that appeared in the edition dated June 12, 2006, information regarding the application for Chapter 90 state aid for road repairs may have been misunderstood. Dana Pixley, Highway Superintendent for the town of Hampden, explained the process to Reminder Publications thusly: "All communities get money through Chapter 90 the state's distribution of gas tax back to cities and towns. It is done apportionatley, based on population, per capata income and exact number of miles in you town. "Hampden does get Chapter 90 funding. This year it will be approximately $160,000. "That money has to be approved specifically for a project by our state aid engineer; it can't be used for general maintenance. This is an important point ... if I had that money at my discretion for patching and such it would certainly help. "This [Chapter 90] money is going to be used for one or more road reconstruction projects, which would have been funded through the $4 million bond. The Chapter 90 money would have augmented the bond spending [for this year]. "We will [now] be looking at projects that need [immediate] attention; roads that need reconstruction and repaving. "At this [time] I don't know which project [will be proposed for Chapter 90 monies]. I waited for the vote to file any project proposals with the state. Now we need to reevaluate which project will have priority." |
