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Newry Select Board approves Branch Road culvert, extends letter of credit and flags transfer-station billing spike
Summary
The Newry Select Board unanimously approved a Branch Road culvert replacement to be completed before July 1, accepted an extension of Malry LLC’s letter of credit to Aug. 1, 2029, and approved several routine motions; Town Administrator reported an April transfer-station bill that roughly doubled from March.
The Town of Newry Select Board met May 19, 2026, and unanimously approved a series of routine actions, including accepting a bid to replace a culvert on Branch Road with work to be completed before July 1 and extending a letter of credit for Malry LLC to Aug. 1, 2029. Selectman Mandy Berry made the motions for those items and Selectman David Bartlett seconded each; Chair Virgil Conkright voted with the board.
The meeting opened at 5:00 p.m. at the Town Office. The board also signed School Board warrants and approved a written Town Attorney Communication Policy. The board granted Laura Taylor permission to use the Grange Hall parking lot for a community yard sale. All procedural motions recorded in the minutes passed by unanimous vote.
On infrastructure, the board accepted the Branch Road culvert replacement bid and set a target completion date of July 1. The motion to accept the bid was made by Selectman Berry and seconded by Selectman Bartlett. The motion record indicates the board directed staff to move forward so the work is done before July 1.
In a financial action, the board accepted an extension of a letter of credit for Malry LLC, moving its expiration to Aug. 1, 2029. That motion was made by Selectman Berry and seconded by Selectman Bartlett; the minutes record a unanimous vote.
The board voted to adjust the town’s mileage reimbursement rate to align with the personnel policy; the motion was made by Selectman Berry and seconded by Selectman Bartlett and passed unanimously.
Staff reports highlighted local permitting and solid-waste costs. The Road Commissioner/Code Officer reported 12 building permits issued so far in 2026 totaling $3,999, including four new single-family dwellings, and said road sweeping service has been reduced this year; the town is working with Cross Excavation and plans to invest in a new sweeper next year.
Town Administrator Loretta Powers told the board that the April transfer-station bill was $10,098, nearly double the March charge of $5,644. The minutes list several revenue line items—"paid at the transfer station were $366, tires $774 and metal $1,576.60"—and then state a total revenue figure of $18,458.60 with $7,383.44 taken off the bill. The minutes do not reconcile those line items with the stated totals; the board did not record further breakdowns in the minutes.
Selectman David Bartlett raised several budget observations, noting that recent line-item decreases amounted to more than $30,000 affecting the Bethel Library and the town Food Pantry and asked the auditor to help clear Town Celebration accounts. Bartlett also noted that calls to the Town Office have appeared from the Volunteer Fire Department caller ID and requested that a Town Office staff member be trained to use the camera system.
The board adjourned at 5:40 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the Town Office. The minutes refer readers to the audio recording for verbatim discussion.
