Housing trust asks Litchfield to assume Gagarin Place private-road plowing; board requests MOU and bids

Jim Simoncelli, director of the Litchfield Housing Trust, requested that municipal crews assume winter snowplowing for the private roadway and turnarounds serving Gagarin Place, an eight‑unit affordable housing development. The trust reported that private snow removal costs exceeded $17,000 last winter and proposed an annual contribution from the Town of roughly $3,000 toward municipal service costs.

Public Works Director Raz Alexe outlined operational and engineering concerns, including the roadway's steep, narrow design, limited ability to accommodate standard town plow equipment, staffing constraints, and potential liability related to road conditions and future maintenance. Selectman John Bongiorno cautioned against setting a precedent—Litchfield has about 85 private roads—and the board declined immediate action, asking the Housing Trust to solicit bids from private contractors and to work with town administration on a proposed memorandum of understanding addressing liability and indemnification.