Select Board Declines To Reopen Sidewalk Vote

Select Board · Meeting of July 20, 2026

Berlin's Select Board declined to reopen its 2025 vote on the Complete Streets sidewalk design despite resident objections. Project manager Chris Lyman of consultant Howard Stein Hudson told the board the project has about $653,000 to work with, combining a $500,000 state grant and roughly $153,500 in ARPA funds that must be spent this year, and warned costs have already risen $30,000 in the past year "just because of the economy." Residents argued a promised second public forum on the Woodward Avenue sidewalk placement never happened, with one calling the process "not democracy." Board member Lisa Wysocki said the board had "spent hours" gathering input before voting in September 2025 to put the sidewalk on the residential side rather than the church side. A resident and self-described Finance Committee member separately challenged the safety of a planned Route 62 crossing near the church, calling it "dangerous." No vote was taken on the project; the board adjourned without rescinding its prior decision.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of July 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.