Presentation urges reopening Road Commission; selectmen discuss task force and equipment bidding

Chris Barcello gave a presentation at the Jan. 8 meeting arguing for reopening the town's Road Commission. Barcello urged the board to reconsider the commission's charge and suggested that responsibilities such as equipment purchase should be included.

Selectman Nick D'Addario called the old Road Commission charge obsolete and suggested forming a task force to determine why the old commission was phased out and what responsibilities the revived commission should hold; he recommended examining neighboring towns for best practices. First Selectman Dan Lent said the commission's charge should be clearly defined and said citizens should report routine housekeeping issues to the First Selectman's office.

During a later public comment period, a resident said equipment purchases should go to bid and older equipment should be sold; the resident also asked about the number of pre-1941 businesses in town and urged the town to find a way to take greater control of reservoirs so water rates don't rise. Lent responded that courts had lists including the Village Store, Greiser's and the Apple Barn, and that churches would require adaptive-use considerations.

Why it matters: How the town manages roads and buys equipment affects maintenance costs, service levels and transparency for procurement. A reopened Road Commission or a task force could change procurement practices and responsibilities.

What's next: The board discussed forming a task force; any formal proposal to reopen the Road Commission, change its charge or purchase new equipment would require follow-up action and likely appear on a future agenda.