Selectmen consider hiring local contractor for hazardous spots on Route 33; liability and funding discussed

The Greenland Board of Selectmen discussed at its June 16 meeting whether to contract a local vendor to perform targeted mowing and millings on sections of state Route 33 after the state said it lacked manpower to complete the work.

Highway staff told the board they have used a local contractor — identified in the meeting as Dan Sewell (Newmarket) — for town roadside work and could ask him to address the more dangerous segments of Route 33, such as intersections near commercial sites and bridge approaches. A selectman said Sewell has been used for town road work for years and that the vendor would likely handle dangerous portions rather than the entire route.

Board members raised liability concerns: one selectman asked whether the town’s maintenance fund covers incidentals if damage occurs during contractor work and whether the town could be reimbursed by the state if the state fails to perform maintenance. Staff said the work would come from the highway maintenance budget and that the town would need to budget for recurring work if the state continues to be unable to perform mowing.

Why it matters: the proposed work would address safety hazards stemming from overgrown sightlines and damaged shoulders on a state highway. The board asked staff to provide a copy of the contractor agreement and to research whether reimbursement from the state is feasible. No vote to award a contract was taken at the June 16 meeting.

Next steps: staff to follow up with the named contractor about scope and cost estimates, provide a copy of the existing maintenance contract, and report back so selectmen can consider whether to budget for recurring work.