Middle Beach Road Fence

Cathy Marsh August 17, 2012 at 11:14 am

I just heard about this and wonder the same. And I hear it is a done deal already ordered.

eileen banisch August 17, 2012 at 12:10 pm

I think the fence creek bridge railing is great looking, and this will be much more aesthetically pleasing than the old railing.

Matt August 17, 2012 at 12:40 pm

Why would there be a town meeting called for a fence? That is not procedure. Why would it be in the paper? That isn't procedure either. There is no fence aesthetics committee. You're insinuating something sinister when the only thing going on is that you personally do not like it. They were not required to get your personal approval. If nobody in the neighborhood likes it, you should all take it up as an organized and informed group with the town.

JGS MD August 17, 2012 at 02:06 pm

Where does the town get the money for the fence? Do the taxpayers pay for it?

Herb August 17, 2012 at 02:48 pm

Under P&Z, we do have an aesthetics Advisory Committee which, at a minimum should have been consulted by the Town, but if the fence is appealing to selected individuals, apparently can be overlooked. There is a growing arrogant attitude by some that “they” know best and “they” will decide.

JGS MD August 17, 2012 at 02:58 pm

I can't imagine this happening in any other seaside New England Town.
.....so can we assume these" selected individuals" are paying for the fence and the tax payers are off the hook for this one??????

Matt August 17, 2012 at 03:03 pm

Yes. FEMA funds might be covering all or part of it. But FEMA funds are tax dollars too, just not local tax dollars. None the less, every single decision is not a matter of vote (not sure if that is what you were getting at or not). The taxpayers have delegated our town officials to make these decisions in the best interest of the town. Just like they don't haul out voting machines when a pot hole needs to be filled in or lines need to be painted. Of course this doesn't mean they actually do make the best decisions in our best interest all the time.... Although I don't see anything wrong with this one.
This piece of fence is not something the residents of Middle Beach have some authority to decide on. No more than I can tell the town what color I want the bridge over the train tracks painted. But again if a large group of people think it is hideous, they should definitely bring it to the town's attention in an organized manner. A group with a plan is much more effective than a person calling to complain.

JGS MD August 17, 2012 at 03:29 pm

It is not only the residents of Middle Beach you seem to single out .....but also the residents of the town of Madison (who use this area for recreation) that are also concerned

Matt August 17, 2012 at 03:39 pm

I'm not singling anyone out... it's the road it is installed on. If it was on Eagle Meadow Drive, I would have said the residents of Eagle Meadow Drive. But you make a good point. It is more of a "public feature" so to speak than say, a guard rail on Opening Hill Rd. The course of action remains the same though... an organized voice with suggestions for improving it.
The town engineer not sharing someone's personal taste in decorating the town is not a sinister plot. IF a large majority of people think it is ugly, I would hope the town will take reasonable action to change the looks. Reasonable meaning, not cost prohibitive or unsafe. But if it is only a few people that don't like it and everyone else has no problem with it... such is life.

Jon August 17, 2012 at 04:48 pm

This town is notorious for making stupid financial decisions. Look at the purchase of the airport. Look at the Senior center.....although every taxpayer should be able to use the center as we all paid for it.
Maybe we can OVERpay for some of the rocks in the sound and set up windmills that provide 1/1000th money of the amount spent from the sale of electricity, that sounds like a good democrat decision.

sj August 17, 2012 at 05:46 pm

What a shame to put this up along one of Madisons most beautiful vistas and walkways without benefit of an aesthetics advisory committee. I have to agree with Herb.....one can hear the arrogance and defensivness in the "defenders" comments..after all to him it's only a fence

George August 17, 2012 at 10:49 pm

Is this discussion about a fence or a highway rail? If a rail and Federal funds are being used there are most likely guidelines factored into the design. While guidelines are are not always requirements, vehicles have gone off the edge of Middle Beach in the past therefore something structurally sound is necessary. The roadway repair was engineered and put out to bid very quickly. It's possible aesthetic consideration didn't go beyond standard details already on file. I'm curious to it's height. Most of the homes on the north side of the road have solid walls aligning the street. The rail may not be so obvious from the homes. Fence or highway rail,it is extremely dense. Hopefully, it won't be painted black nor will a child on the sidewalk try to climb those deep horizontal fins to get a view of the water.

Jon August 20, 2012 at 03:22 pm

? How many vehicles have gone off the edge, really? How about those people should not have a 6th drink at the Beach Club or shouldn't have been driving at 85 years old.

greg johnson August 20, 2012 at 11:50 pm

i attended the meeting today at 49 MBR with the Town Engineer and was appalled by the process he used to select a contractor, a design and a finish without once consulting the neighbors. He stated that there is nothing that can be done to challenge his unilateral decision.
Two questions occurred to me: 1. Was the required three bid process used to select the conttractor for the "wall" (Mr McPherson's term)? 2. What will happen if the homeowners in the area petition in early 2013 to have their property taxes reduced because of the negative impact of this unsightly wall on their properties?

Matt August 21, 2012 at 12:52 am

For those who were not there, can you explain what that process was? As for question #2, I'm sure we all know what the answer to that is. They'll jack the taxes up! Someone has to pay for the Griswold vacant lot and the mostly vacant senior center.