Forest Street is a Private Way that is owned by the residents who live on that street. The Town does not have the ability to do anything more than fix pot holes or to plow/sand the street in the winter. Of all the streets in Dedham, roughly 30% of the streets are private ways for which the Town has no ability to improve. The owners of the street could collectively improve the street on their own or request that a betterment be done by the street (for which all of the residents would be assessed a portion of the improvement). Once the street were improved to Town standards, the residents could then petition the Town to accept it as a Town street.
This would require a vote of Town Meeting in order to do that. However, it should be clear that this could only happen- after- the road was improved to an acceptable condition. That particuliar rule is not a local rule by a State Law. If you would like to know more about how this rule works, you could contact the Town's Engineering Department and ask to speak with David Field, Director of Engineering or Jason Mammone, Infrastructure Engineer for further clarification. They can be reached as 781-751-9350.
Thanks for your inquiry,
Bill Keegan

We have lived on Forest Street for 25 years and this is the first time anyone has ever mentioned it is a private way. I think you will need to double check you information because all the residents here on Forest Street are 99.99% sure we are NOT a private way.

I appreciate your latest concern but I have confirmed with our Engineering Department that Forest Street is a Private Way. The research indicates the following:
"Forest Street (formerly known as Berlin Way) is a private way. The road was created as part of a subdivision in 1878 but the road has not been accepted by the Town". I don't know how you have determined the status of the Street to be a Public Way but it is also a common misunderstanding of residents that because the Town plows, sands or repairs potholes that the road is owned by the Town.
The Town will often keep the road open for travel and for public safety purposes but does not have the ability to reconstruct or fully repair the road. If you would like to confirm the Town's understanding of the Forest Street's status as a Private Way, please feel free to contact the Dedham Engineering Department at 781-751-9350 and ask to speak with David Field, Director of Engineering or Jason Mammone, Infrastructure Engineer.
Thanks,
Bill Keegan