Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Roads topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press select board over 'roads a mess'; board moves to add citizen to roads committee
Summary
Significant public comment at the March 18 meeting focused on road condition, winter maintenance, salt/sand usage and equipment procurement. The board heard lengthy testimony from Scott Duchamp and moved to appoint him to the Town Roads Committee to add local technical experience.
Residents used the public comment period at the March 18 Select Board meeting to press the board on the town’s road condition and winter maintenance practices. Several speakers described cracked pavement, excessive use of sand and salt, and recurring potholes; a long statement from local contractor Scott Duchamp outlined practical changes he recommends, including different de-icing strategy, better compaction after utility cuts, and improved equipment choices.
"Our roads are a mess," Duchamp told the board and said he had documented years of maintenance issues and suggested that citizen expertise be tapped through a technical committee to assist the town. Board members discussed forming an engineering/oversight group to review projects and recommended a spring on-site review of roads and drainage needs.
Appointment: The board placed Scott Duchamp’s appointment to the Town Roads Committee on the agenda and confirmed that a site walk with public works, Woodard & Curran and volunteers would be scheduled to examine flagged problem areas.
What’s next: Staff will schedule a spring on-site meeting to walk flagged road projects with public works staff, consultants and interested board members; the committee appointment is intended to bring practical, local construction and road‑maintenance knowledge to the board’s deliberations.
