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Select board approves firehouse change orders, sewer truck purchase and winter staffing policy
Summary
The board approved several change orders on the firehouse project totaling around $20,522 and approved a previously-authorized sewer truck purchase (about $91,000). The board also designated a temporary seasonal snow-plow-driver position as a 'special municipal employee' to allow town employees to serve as plow drivers and adopted a snow-and-ice SOP for posting to the town website.
The Board of Selectmen voted to approve multiple change orders to the Fry Highway (fire headquarters) renovation project, including chipping and leveling existing concrete slab work ($10,909.67), attic/ceiling insulation ($5,308.65), incoming service shut-off monitoring ($1,057.68), and sheetrock/finish work in a second-floor kitchen area ($3,245.91). The change orders were presented by project staff and approved by voice vote.
The board also approved the purchase of a sewer vehicle described in a vendor quote as "about $91,000 and change." The board confirmed the purchase had been previously authorized at town meeting and moved to sign the required documents to proceed.
To address winter-storm staffing limits, the board designated the temporary seasonal snow-plow-driver position as a "special municipal employee" effective Dec. 1, 2025. The designation will allow town employees from other departments to fill temporary plow roles after completing a disclosure form, which staff said is a common small-town practice to avoid state conflict-of-interest issues.
Finally, the board accepted a three-page standard operating procedure for snow and ice treatment that prioritizes main routes, outlines mailbox and private-road expectations, and offers tips for residents. The board voted to post the SOP synopsis to the town website to set expectations for snow-and-ice responses.
All motions on the change orders, vehicle purchase, special-employee designation and SOP posting passed by voice vote.
