Mason Road Will Be Paved
By M. D. Drysdale

Okay, okay. Mason Road will be repaved after all.

Two weeks ago, Selectboard Chair Jim Hutchinson asked for more time to assess the results of an "experiment," to see how the 1.5-mile road north of town would hold up with its new gravel reconstruction.

But residents said they had been promised previously that it would be repaved. They presented a list of 14 residents, all but a handful of whom wanted it paved.

This week only one resident turned out to press the issue. Dr. Lou DiNicola had been counting potholes and had gotten up to over 100 between his home and the paved road.

He also added the information that most Hollyhock Hill residents, who must first drive Mason Road, were also heavily in favor of repaving.

Selectman Larry Townsend made a motion to repave the road this summer.

"We promised," he explained.

Hutchinson, noting that he lives on a dirt road (two, actually), said he remains "mystified" that people prefer paved surfaces, but with a grin he said he would "accede to the public sentiment." The vote was 5-0.

Other News

The selectboard agreed to send a letter, penned by resident Hugo Liepmann, to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, asking that state groundwater funding be made available to identify and map groundwater resources in Randolph.

The board also heard a proposal to apply for a grant from the U. S. Department of Agriculture to do more riprapping to stablize a river bank that is threatening a home on Dewey Blvd. off of Route 12A.

"This is a spectacular situation," observed Hutchinson, talking about the erosion where the river appears determined to change course.

Granite rip-rap is available for free from the Bethel granite quarry. However, action was tabled until the town could find out how much it would cost to truck the granite to the river- and whether the owner, Mr. Dewey, would pay for that service.

Linda Nissl was appointed as the town's E-911 Coordinator. She succeeds Don Sweetser, who has served in that position for five years, while the E-911 system was being put in place.

Sweetser was praised for doing "an incredible job… extremely thorough.

The position pays an hourly wage. Nissl is assistant town clerk.

Sewer Plant Planning

A subcommittee will be established to begin early planning on replacing Randolph's wastewater treatment plant.

It's estimated that replacement will be needed in five to eight years. A member of the capital budget committee and a member of the water and sewer committee will join other citizens. Call the town manager's office if interested in serving.

Finally, the selectboard tabled requests from two landowners to have their property added to the Randolph Fire District #1 in Randolph Center. This would allow them to be served by the Center's water system.

Pierre LaFrance made a request regarding Lake Champagne Campground. Part of the campground has always been in the district, but he would like to add the rest.

The second landowner is Michael and Linda Gaidys.

The annual Fire District Meeting on May 15 discussed the two requests and approved them.

However, the selectboard must approve the requests, as well.

The board tabled the issue until the town attorney can give an opinion.