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Highway superintendent reports major drainage and paving progress; town to post full‑time superintendent position
Summary
Highway superintendent Leo O’Coyne reported completed drainage work and planned paving and culvert projects; he urged a market adjustment in starting pay to fill vacancies. Town administrator asked to post the transfer station/town buildings & parks superintendent role as full‑time following the incumbent’s retirement.
Leo O'Coyne (speaker 12), Henniker’s highway superintendent, told the Select Board on Oct. 15 the department has installed more than 5,000 feet of pipe on a difficult hill, raised structures and completed initial paving in several areas (Western Ave, Bacon Road, Deer Run), and plans additional culvert replacements this fall. O’Coyne described challenges with contractor scheduling and noted his crew will continue shouldering and other reconstruction projects into the next season.
O’Coyne also raised recruitment problems and proposed a market adjustment in starting pay to about $24 per hour to attract drivers and crew members. He said the department has struggled to recruit applicants and that increasing starting pay and active recruitment (sign boards, advertising) would be necessary.
Separately, Diane Kendall (town administrator) asked the board to authorize posting the superintendent of transfer station, town buildings and parks as a full‑time position after the current part‑time incumbent (Mark Bovair) retires effective 01/02/2025. Kendall said the department currently has two full‑time and two part‑time employees and that converting the superintendent role to full time could mean transitioning to three full‑time and one part‑time positions; personnel details were recommended for nonpublic discussion.
Ending: The board accepted the department update, complimented crews on recent work, and agreed to consider the personnel posting; they scheduled further personnel discussion in nonpublic as needed.
