Road committee reports roughly $1.19M available for roads through 2027, recommends short inspection hire

Members of the Town of Wayne Road Committee reviewed the town’s road funding and near‑term spending constraints and discussed a short‑term staffing recommendation to support maintenance planning.

A committee member told colleagues the town held about $691,000 in reserves with another $150,000 in the 2025–26 maintenance budget that will roll into reserves on July 1; a separate $250,000 transfer into reserves was also noted. After excluding committed contract accounts, the committee estimated roughly $999,000 available for culverts, gravel, ditching and tree work this fiscal cycle, and discussed total funds available through June 30, 2027 of about $1,190,000.

The committee reported that six wearing‑surface road contracts (about $290,000) and two reclaims (about $237,000) have been contracted; after accounting for those obligations committee members estimated roughly $415,000 still available for other work this season, but emphasized the treasurer’s cash‑flow guidance to limit spending to no more than $400,000 before August.

On staffing, a member proposed hiring a part‑time road inspector at $35 per hour for approximately four hours per week plus mileage to run roads, compile a short maintenance report (shoulders, stop‑sign needs, tree trimming) and return recommendations to the committee. The proposal was presented as a personal recommendation for the select board to consider, not a formal committee motion.

The committee asked staff to prioritize clarifying bid dates and award timing so that financial commitments and bonding requirements match the town’s cash‑flow tolerances before work is scheduled. No formal budget transfers or hiring approvals were made at the meeting; those items will require select‑board action.

The committee scheduled follow‑up work to finalize RFP timing and to present the staffing recommendation for select‑board consideration.