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New Ashford Select Board plans repairs, seeks culverts after Greylock Road damage
Summary
The New Ashford Select Board discussed immediate repairs to Greylock Road after rain left material un-compacted, approved follow-up work and will apply to MA DOT for tar-and-grit and culverts for Ingraham Road; the board also addressed an ash tree downed on wires and fire station finishing delays.
The New Ashford Select Board on Nov. 3 discussed immediate repairs to several town roads after recent rain left work on Greylock Road un-compacted and muddy. Resident Frank Youngkin raised safety concerns, saying the road is "muddy and slick and the gulleys have partially filled," which could direct water down the roadway. Road Commissioner Keith Lacasse said the material "was not compacted last week because of the rain" and that crews will roll and grade the surface to harden it and rely on the road crown to address runoff. The board noted paving will continue Nov. 4 beginning at 6:00 a.m., and that Lacasse directed traffic while pavers worked.
The board also discussed drainage on Ingraham Road. Lacasse said he will meet with Lanesboro's highway superintendent to inspect drainage issues on Lanesboro's side that are causing damage on New Ashford's side; he reported Ingraham Road was reclaimed "4–6 inches" and then graded and compacted. The Select Board said it will apply to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MA DOT) grant programs for tar-and-grit treatment on Greylock Road and for two "forty feet long, 16-inch culverts" on Ingraham Road (transcript wording; dimensions not clarified in the transcript).
Board members also addressed two infrastructure-related items: an ash tree fell on wires along Greylock Road and another branch was on White Road; and work on the fire station addition will have exterior metal siding and soffit finished while old siding is stored for potential repairs. Interior work in the fire station remains incomplete because "there’s a wire going through the middle of the studs and Keith cannot finish the inside until the wire is moved," the board said.
Legal counsel advised that the Select Board Chair's signature is acceptable for the town's snow plowing contract, the board reported. The board reviewed and signed the warrant and set the next meeting for Nov. 18, 2025; Ken McInerney will attend remotely.
Why it matters: Greylock and Ingraham roads serve local residents and any prolonged closure or drainage failure could affect safety and access; grant funding and coordination with neighboring Lanesboro are necessary steps to reduce future damage. The Select Board's actions set short-term repair work in motion while seeking external funding for larger drainage fixes.
The meeting recorded no vote on funding for the culverts; the board said it will pursue MA DOT grants and return with more details once the application and any qualifying requirements are clarified.
