Residents dissatisfied by requirements to make Candle Paper Lane a public way

Residents of Candle Paper Lane, located in West Wareham off Papermill Road, have submitted a request to have the Select Board accept their road as a public way at the Fall Town Meeting.

The Town Meeting will be held at the Wareham Elementary School at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 23. 

Currently, Candle Paper Lane is owned by a developer from Middleboro. 

In order for this road to become a public way, a layout must be generated, brought to the Planning Board for recommendation and then to the Select Board for approval, according to Town Counsel Richard Bowen.

At a hearing held on Tuesday, Oct. 10, the Select Board determined that further study is necessary to make any decisions about Candle Paper Lane.

The Planning Board is requiring that the residents of Candle Paper Lane form a Homeowners Association and while the road itself would be maintained by the town if the request passed, the association would need to take care of utilities, sidewalks, drainage and the small island in the middle of the cul-de-sac.

So far, residents have been reluctant to accept the requirements set by the Planning Board.

According to Roger Mello, a Candle Paper Lane resident, residents are reluctant to form a Homeowners Association as well as to deal with the drainage system on their own.

Mello said he has been living on Candle Paper Lane for 13 years and has worked with the developer to try and solve the remaining issues the residents’ have with the property, including the paving of the road’s top coat.

He added the developer did a “nice job” with the property, but struggled financially to assist in the upkeep, including the work to finish the road. 

Mello said attempts were made by the developer in the past to make Candle Paper Lane a public way, but none succeeded. He added he and his fellow residents are determined to make it happen.

However, residents are dissatisfied with the proposed requirements because they were not mentioned during those previous attempts.

“It seems like a real conflict of who would be responsible for the road,” said Select Board member Tricia Wurts.

Select Board member Alan Slavin said, “It's very discouraging for them, but they have to meet the current standards that we have.”

He added, “We’re at a stalemate.”