Selectboard orders re-bid of roadwork after residents decry tree damage

Residents pressed Sullivan’s Selectboard on July 1, 2025, over recent roadside tree cutting they said was done poorly and left debris, prompting the board to order two new bids to fix and finish the work.

A man speaking for Roberta Scott said the contractor’s work on Grange Hall Road was “poorly done,” with trees cut in ways that left debris along the right-of-way. Lisa Henries read a prepared statement saying the tree cutting on Thorn Road likely caused damage from which some trees “would not recover.” Several other residents voiced similar concerns and asked for advance notice when the town schedules roadside work.

Road Commissioner and Selectman Gregory Ring told the board he had spoken several times with the contractor about the issues. The board discussed options for correction and the need for clearer advance notification to impacted residents.

Selectboard Chair Norman Bamford moved that the cleanup of work already done be put out to bid and that the remaining work on Thorn Road be bid separately, with written specifications requiring arborist knowledge, appropriate tools, and that the town send notification letters to affected property owners. Erin Shanahan seconded the motion; the board approved it 3–0.

The action directs town staff to prepare bid documents reflecting the board’s specifications and to solicit contractors for both cleanup and completion work. The board did not set a contractor or dollar amount at the meeting. The motion closes with a requirement that bidders demonstrate arboricultural competence and follow defined work‑site practices.

The Selectboard took the vote at the beginning of the meeting after moving public comments earlier on the agenda. Next steps include drafting the bid specifications and circulating them to prospective contractors; the town’s timeline for issuing bids was not specified at the meeting.