Yarmouth conservation commission approves $36,500 to redesign Upper Bass River footbridge

The Town of Yarmouth Conservation Commission on June 18 approved a $36,500 payment from the commission’s conservation fund to pay Stimson Associates for a redesign of footbridge and boardwalk elements in the Upper Bass River Restoration Project.

Connor Clifford, a civil engineer at the Yarmouth Department of Public Works, told the commission the funds would “bridge a funding gap to continue the permitting schedule related to the Upper Bass River Restoration Project’’ and cover consulting fees for Stimson Associates. He said the town and project partners have secured more than $9 million in state and federal funds for the project but could not reallocate partner dollars to cover the design revision.

Commissioners pressed staff and the project team for details about what is changing and why the extra cost is needed. Members sought clarity on whether the $36,500 is a lump‑sum redesign fee or an open time‑and‑materials request, how many bridges are affected and what materials would replace the originally proposed components. Staff and the contractor explained the original designs used specialized materials—12‑inch black locust palisades and a wider footprint—that are difficult to source and to maintain by the town’s Division of Natural Resources; the redesign would simplify materials and reduce the bridge width to lower wetland impacts and improve maintainability.

Rick Bishop, executive director of Friends of Bass River, which paid for the original design work, said the group spent roughly $45,000 on the initial designs and urged the commission to approve the funding so permitting could proceed on schedule. Bishop said the redesign is intended to reduce future maintenance burdens and keep construction on track for the next season.

Commissioners also questioned whether the conservation fund is the appropriate source for the request. Members noted the fund has not received regular town contributions in many years and discussed adding a future proviso to seek a small, recurring town appropriation to sustain trail and bridge maintenance. To address uncertainty about costs and future fundraising, a commissioner moved—and the body approved—a special condition requesting the project team continue seeking other funding and return any unspent amount to the conservation fund.

The commission voted in favor of issuing the payment and the associated order of conditions with that proviso. Staff recorded the action as approval of funds to cover the consultant redesign and directed the project team to provide more detailed scope and budget documentation to the commission on request. The commission did not record a roll‑call tally in the minutes; the chair announced the motion carried.