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Bradford Select Board outlines capital priorities, holds $25,000 ARPA for broadband
Summary
Board discussed using ARPA funds for bridges and other capital needs, proposed holding $25,000 for broadband pending clarification, and reviewed major budget items including a $101,000 revaluation, bridge estimates up to $285,000 with interest, road and ditching projects, and ballfield and ADA expenditures.
At its Nov. 18 meeting the Town of Bradford Select Board reviewed proposed capital and budget priorities and discussed use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for infrastructure projects.
Board members noted that towns with under $10 million in revenues are exempt from many ARPA regulations and that ARPA funds may be used for bridge work. During discussion board members flagged conflicting broadband proposals — one letter said the "whole town" would receive service while another said "all residents" — and agreed to hold $25,000 of ARPA funds for broadband until board member Levi Surette could be present to clarify next steps. The board tabled broadband action pending Levi’s participation.
The board compiled a list of capital and expense items to guide budget planning: culverts ($10,000); ditching ($50,000 and an additional line item of $20,000 noted elsewhere); stormwater work; an estimated $3,000 to repair or build a basketball court; ADA door upgrades estimated at $5,000 with Chris assigned to look for grants; fire department needs including upgraded gear, a washer/dryer and CPR equipment ($20,000) with grant-seeking encouraged; Middle Road Bridge work ($15,000 noted in one line item) and a separate Middle Branch Bridge estimate of $215,000 plus interest (a total of $285,000 was cited when interest was included); and a proposed revaluation and tax-map update estimated at $101,000 (maps were last updated in 2015). Other items discussed included road improvements on Station and Tasker roads (approximately 1,000 feet of build-up estimated at $40,000), sprinkler-system removal (estimate pending), and a notable road dip at the south end of Reeves Road to be addressed.
On foreclosures the board stated a policy preference not to foreclose by default when a property owner makes a good-faith effort to pay; foreclosure letters for tax years 2021 and older will be mailed in December and notices for 2022 will be sent next year. The meeting also recorded a proposed 2025 state valuation for the town of $100,250,000.
Several items were marked for further cost estimates or grant research and some line items were noted for removal from the proposed budget list. No final budgets or bond measures were adopted at this meeting.
