Chapter 174 of the Acts of 1994 and its subsequent amendment under Chapter 350 of the Acts of 2014 authorizes the Town to borrow and expend funds for the purpose of making repairs to private roads. Under this Program the abutters to roads being repaired can be charged betterment assessments for 100% of the actual costs of repairs which they can elect to pay in one lump sum or over a period of up to 20 years (with interest). None of these roads will be taken by the Town of Barnstable and will remain private roads. A majority of the property abutters to Pine Ridge Road in Cotuit have expressed an interest in having repairs made to their private road and 63% of the abutters have signed a Consent and Acknowledgement Agreement for Betterment Assessment. The proposed work is the removal and replacement of the existing pavement, cleaning of existing drainage, and installation of additional drainage structures.

The cost of improvements: Estimated as $125,500 with a cost per 16 abutters, distributed as 16 shares, not to exceed $7,850 per abutter share.

FISCAL IMPACT: There is no cost to the Town, as all costs will be covered by betterments assessed on the abutters. The Town will issue a bond to cover the cost of the repairs and use the revenue collected from the betterment assessments to make the annual loan repayments on the bond.

If you live on a private road that is in need of drainage, repair or repaving this program provides a mechanism for you but requires 51% of the abutters to agree before 100% of the owners share in the betterment costs.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.