DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board last week instructed Highway Superintendent Edward Hall to explore potential solutions to delineate the town sidewalk from the Zinky's Pub parking lot.

 

The licensing board hearing to determine whether there were any legal violations that need to be addressed with the liquor license turned to a discussion on the state of the sidewalk in front of the popular pub.

 

Pub patrons have been known to park on the "unidentifiable sidewalk" despite the efforts made by Zinky's owner Bill Zink to prevent them. 

 

The parking violations have made it difficult for resident Maggie Walto to walk with her mother, who has mobility issues.

 

During a meeting in April, Walto expressed that these parking violations forced her to walk in the middle of the road.  

 

Zink has attempted to alleviate the problem by placing cones but some people do not follow his efforts and will park ahead of the cones, she said. 

 

Select Board member Marc Strout said he has been down that street and understands her frustrations since the sidewalk is not marked. 

 

This issue is not Zinky's responsibility since it is town property so the town should appropriate some money to help resolve the issue, Strout said. 

 

Even a delineation of a sidewalk, even if it is just by paint, is better than letting the people who park decide where the sidewalk is, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said. 

 

At first, Strout and Select Board member John Boyle recommended utilizing some of the $10,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help resolve the issue. 

 

Other members of the board cautioned against this solution because the Department of Public works does not yet have a list of sidewalks in the area that are in need of urgent repair. 

 

Chair Joseph Diver added that if they were to approve this request they would have to approve all requests and funds are limited and that the sidewalks with highest level of urgency should be addressed because of safety concerns.

 

Boyle disagreed, noting that they are not requesting to have a whole street paved only a small portion, roughly 25 yards.

 

Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said Hall may not have to use the ARPA funds to resolve the issue because there is additional money set aside for sidewalks.

 

The board will be deferring this issue under high priority to the highway superintendent to come up with a solution based on his professional opinion.