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Select Board authorizes regional road contracts and adopts street‑acceptance policy
Summary
The board authorized participation in 11 Southeast Regional Services Group (SERS) procurements for road work (guardrails, chip seal, asphalt, sidewalk work) and adopted a town street‑acceptance policy clarifying developer responsibilities, deposits and inspections for accepting new roads.
At its April 6 meeting the Bellingham Select Board authorized the town's participation in 11 group procurements through the Southeast Regional Services Group (SERS) and voted to adopt a formal street‑acceptance policy.
DPW staff outlined the SERS package — which covers guardrails, traffic line painting, rubber chip seal, crack sealing, catch basin cleaning, sidewalk construction and hot‑mix asphalt (Bellingham is in Zone B). Jesse (DPW) said the group procurements have produced significant cost savings for recent paving projects.
A board member cited cost comparisons and said the town's use of the SERS procurements has cut paving costs substantially versus separate contracting.
Separately, staff presented a draft street‑acceptance policy that would require developers to submit standardized materials, pay a deposit to cover review and legal recording costs, and certify completion of punch‑list items before the town accepts streets for municipal maintenance. The board adopted the policy by motion to make the expectations and procedures consistent across projects and to limit the town's exposure to incomplete work at the time of town meeting approvals.
Board members said the policy will also make it clearer which inspections are required and allow the planning board and select board to share review responsibilities. Staff noted more detailed subdivision rule changes may be proposed in the fall to align processes across boards.
