By Brian Trompeter
The Vienna Town Council on Dec. 4 approved a $171,115 contract with Whitman, Requardt & Associates to provide construction-management-and-inspection services for three upcoming sidewalk projects.
Using funds from the Maud Ferris Robinson Charitable Trust, a $7 million bequest from the late Council member Maud Robinson, the town plans to build sidewalks on:
• Beulah Road, N.E., between Church Street and Ayr Hill Avenue.
• Tapawingo Road from Park Street, S.E., to Plum Street, S.W.
• Lawyers Road, N.W., from Windover Avenue to West Street.
Council member Charles Anderson pressed for this sidewalk, saying that section of roadway was a blind corner where trees had been falling into the street.
“There’s really no way to walk on that side,” he said.
Mayor Linda Colbert was enthusiastic about all three projects.
“This will be huge,” she said. “All three of these are places where people walk. All of these, I think, are great projects.”
Town Bestows ‘STAR Awards’ to 2 Public-Works Employees for Sidewalk Efforts: The Vienna town government in the last several years has considered and embarked on sidewalk projects all over town, using funds from the Maud Ferris Robinson Charitable Trust.
All has not gone smoothly, however, as neighboring residents often have objected vociferously to having sidewalks built on their properties. Vienna Public Works Department project manager Alsinia Ervin and project engineer Robert Froh have met with many of those residents, presented them with project facts and assuaged their concerns.
In recognition of their efforts, Mayor Linda Colbert and Vienna Town Council member Howard Springsteen nominated the pair for STAR Awards.
“These awards acknowledge the hard work, the dedication and the professionalism of Ms. Ervin and Mr. Froh in implementing the Robinson Trust sidewalk program,” said acting Public Works Director Christine Horner.
Colbert bestowed the honors at the Council’s Dec. 4 meeting.
“We are so appreciative of the work that they did,” Colbert said. “It was amazing that they could calm people down and just really walk through the steps with everybody . . . You both did it in such a way that brought the community into the process and made them feel they were listened to and that they were really getting the best possible sidewalk for their neighborhood. You’ve done above and beyond, I think, what we ever expected you to even do, so thank you.”
