“We would deliberate each issue in a public forum and with consideration of the debt service and impact to the budget.””

Julie Goucher, Bristol Treasurer

When will your road be paved?

The tentative schedule of road paving projects includes:

2016

•Franklin Street (Magnolia Street to Metacom Avenue).

•Magnolia Street (Bay View Avenue to State Street).

•Buttonwood Avenue (Bay View to State).

•Hattie Brown Lane (Waterman Avenue to Lucent Lane)

•Shamrock Court

•South Lane

•Beatrice Lane

•Vernon Avenue

•Creek Lane

•Sullivan Lane/Tobin Lane

•North Burial Ground roads

2017

•Justin Street (Sachem Road to Jameson Drive)

•Sachem Road

•Sunrise (South of Mulberry Road)

•Forrest Road (Everready Avenue to Hydraulion Avenue)

•Ledge Road 

•Gibson Avenue

•Fatima Drive (Metacom Avenue to Everett Drive)

•Balzano Drive

2018

•Hopeworth Avenue (Ruth Avenue to Viking Drive)

•Roosevelt Drive (Metacom Avenue to Johnson Court; Lang Avenue to end)

•Marie Drive

•Barbara Drive

•Judy Drive

•Karen Ann Drive

•Ursula Drive

•Michael Drive (Metacom to Betsy Drive)

A new public marina, better roads and sidewalks, less flooding and more open space are all on the agenda after November — if Bristol voters agree to borrow $17 million.

Local bond referendum Question 8 is on the November ballot, asking Bristol residents whether they support borrowing the money that would be spent on a number of projects. “If approved, the bond will allow the town of Bristol to borrow funds for drainage projects, road and sidewalk repairs and improvements, renovations to public buildings, acquisition of open space, and the expansion of the Town-owned marina,” the town’s website reads.

Here’s a closer look at each aspect of the bond:

Drainage projects — $7 million

Bristolians are no stranger to flooding. Every time a heavy rain falls on the town, streams overflow and roads are inundated with water, making some of them dangerous or even impossible to pass. The bond would allow the town to continue with the Tanyard Brook project, a multi-million project to replace the clogged and collapsed underground culverts installed prior to the 1960s, which could no longer handle heavy rains. Phase 1 wrapped up in 2013, with workers having replaced the culvert that runs from Garfield Street to the outflow at Walker's Cove on Hope Street. Phase 2 is on-going, requiring workers to gain access to private property to fix the subterranean stream. 

The drainage phase of the bond would also allow the town to address other drainage and flooding issues in town, including Silver Creek, which runs from Gooding Avenue, past Mt. Hope High School on its way toward Hope Street.

Road and sidewalk repairs — $5 million

The money would allow the town to continue with its pavement management plan. The town is also undergoing a three-year road repaving plan, with the goal of fixing potholes and deterioration on Bristol’s streets. The work has been divided into three phases, one underway now, and the town has identified which roads will be paved in each phase. (See sidebar for a full list of scheduled improvements).

Town-owned marina — $2 million

Bristol has a waiting list of more than 100 people waiting to secure dock access in town. Officials hope to build a 122-slip extension to the Church Street Dock, which would extend behind the Robin Rug facility on Thames Street. As reported in the Phoenix on Oct. 6, regardless of the election’s outcome, the project is on hold indefinitely after an apparent disagreement with Robin Rug owner Russell Karian regarding three dock terminations, or connections, on Robin Rug’s land.

Acquisition of open space — $2 million

The money would be used for the town to buy property or conservation easements on open space properties, woodlands, farmland, etc. The town has increased its open space purchases in recent years, and is trying to preserve waterfront access for residents. In 2013, the town bought the Azevedo property, for example, two dilapidated buildings on Thames Street next to the Ever Ready Fire Company, specifically to own rights to the waterfront.

Rehabilitation of public buildings — $1 million

The bond would provide funding to renovate public buildings on an as-needed basis, including decommissioned school buildings Byfield, Reynolds and Walley. 

Tax rate implications

Bristol carries a general fund debt of $28.8 million as of June 30, according to town Treasurer Julie Goucher. Borrowing $17 million would add to that debt and could have an effect on the town tax rate for homeowners. Each million dollars borrowed requires an annual repayment of about $70,000, roughly 3 cents on the tax rate. By that estimation, the full bond referendum on the ballot could increase the property tax rate by 51 cents per thousand dollars of valuation. 

Even if approved, there’s no guarantee the full $17 million would be borrowed. While voter approval would permit the town to bond for the full amount, leaders won’t necessarily do so all at once. 

“We would deliberate each issue in a public forum and with consideration of the debt service and impact to the budget,” Ms. Goucher said.

The size of the bond is not unprecedented in Bristol. In 2006, voters approved a $15 million referendum for roads, public safety, sewers, open space and drainage. Town leaders point out that some of the money in the 2016 referendum will be used to trigger larger state and federal grants that require local matching funds, potentially increasing the power of the referendum.