Select Board approves $70,980 to finish Range Road box culvert to protect FEMA funding

The Select Board voted to approve $70,980 to complete the Range Road box culvert installation after highway staff warned that missing the FEMA deadline could cost the town its grant funding.

Frank Pocopin, the highway agent, told the board the culvert units are manufactured and the pieces will weigh roughly 40,000 pounds apiece; the installation must be completed by the end of November or the town risks forfeiting FEMA reimbursement. “We stand to lose the money if we don't get this thing in,” Pocopin said.

Because the timeline for formal bidding would delay work beyond the deadline, the board authorized the highway department to perform the installation in‑house over a one‑week window (proposed last week of October), supplemented by rented equipment and a small contractor crew. Pocopin presented a $9,000 estimate for equipment rental and labor for the tight five‑day install; additional costs for offloading, storage and re‑delivery if the town delayed would have been an estimated $10,000–$15,000.

Select Board members discussed procurement norms and whether the situation constituted an emergency that justified proceeding without a full public bid process. Some members expressed concern about being blindsided by site scheduling and public notice; others emphasized the urgency imposed by FEMA and the weather window.

The board voted to approve the $70,980 expenditure and directed staff to use the town's warrant-article road reconstruction funds to cover the cost. The highway agent said the work would require a planned five‑day road closure and that he had coordinated with police, fire and the school bus system about timing.

Next steps: the highway agent will schedule the in‑house installation, arrange the required heavy‑lift equipment and report back to the board on progress and final costs.