Albion Village Board wants progress on parking lot
File photo by Tom Rivers: The Village Board would like to see most of this grassy area on Main Street, next to the First Presbyterian Church, be made into a parking lot.
ALBION – The Village Board wants to see some progress on a new parking lot on Main Street.
The village owns the land that was used for a restaurant until the building was taken down about five years ago. The site is right next to the First Presbyterian Church.
Paving most of the vacant spot for parking would create 17 spaces for vehicles, said Todd Sargent, the Albion DPW superintendent.
The project will take some work because there needs to be a retaining wall between the church and the parking lot, Sargent said. The site also needs some excavation, with a base and then pavement.
Mayor Dean London and Trustee Stan Farone asked Sargent to have cost estimates for the project for the Feb.22 Village Board meeting.
In other action during Wednesday’s Village Board meeting:
• The board authorized village attorney John Gavenda to send a letter to the Town of Barre, asking the town to have Albion supply water for Barre’s Water District No. 8 for 38 years. The village currently supplies the water for Barre’s water districts.
In the past, when the village has agreed to provide water for districts in towns, there wasn’t a 38-year commitment. But the US Department of Agriculture, which is providing a low-interest loan for the water district, would like to see the 38-year commitment. The USDA is providing financing for the district to be paid over 38 years.
London said he supports the long-term deal by the village for providing water. Albion has been trying to get towns that receive village water to make long-term commitments for village water.
• Sargent, the DPW superintendent, said he is working on two grants to help the village plant more trees. The urban forestry grants can also help communities assess the conditions of their trees and develop a plan for maintenance and planting new trees.
• Farone, a member of Energize Albion, welcomed the community to attend a Feb. 18 event at Bullard Park. The “Bonfire at Bullard” event includes a sledding distance contest at 3 p.m., snowboarding distance contest at 3:30 p.m., snowman building contest judging beginning at 4 p.m., and lighting of bonfire at 6 p.m. There will also be food vendors at the park from 4 to 7 p.m.
