Salisbury selectmen waive bid for driveway access, advance highway building plans

Salisbury Board of Selectmen Chair Jim Hoyt opened a work session on April 8, 2026 to begin detailing bid packages and specifications for a proposed highway department building and to review a draft departmental budget. Hoyt said the town’s current budget includes funds to obtain driveway access and electrical service to the property and outlined a multi-item list of work that will be broken into separate bid packages.

The board discussed site work and building systems in detail. Road Agent MacDuffie sought clarification on whether the driveway would go out to competitive bid; Hoyt said he preferred the Road Agent perform the driveway work and proposed waiving the formal bid process for that specific access work. The board voted to waive the bid process for the driveway access; Selectman David Hostetler seconded the motion and it passed without opposition.

Town Administrator April Rollins presented a rough draft budget for the highway department that includes furniture, appliances, training, uniforms, drug screenings and continued operating costs such as sand and gravel. Rollins asked MacDuffie for fuel-usage estimates; MacDuffie said precise usage is difficult to estimate because of variable factors, and the board discussed on-site fuel storage. Members agreed fuel storage should include a concrete slab, containment and a roof.

The board also discussed mechanical and safety systems that will be included in bid documents: overhead power to an electrical pedestal with a separate underground feed to the building, plumbing overlays, a backup generator sized to power the entire building, and a potential fire suppression system — with the board planning to consult Building Inspector Chuck Bodien on any requirement for suppression. Hoyt said he has a contact for an electrical overlay and will pursue that work.

Interior- and finish-level choices were narrowed: sealed concrete was chosen as the preferred flooring, a single ceramic shower (about six feet high) and no vanity for the sink were discussed, and vinyl siding and stick-built construction were favored over a metal building. The board also added items such as signage, an air-compressor system, a water-filtration system, dumpsters, porta-potty and appliances to the procurement lists.

Public commenters raised installation and design points. Harvey Peters suggested checking contractor Huckleberry for heating installation and asked whether a drive-through bay was necessary; Hoyt said the Highway Building Advisory Committee’s design included future-ready elements and that plans for bidding were being prepared. Faith Partridge asked if the plans were final for bidding; Hoyt said they are set for planning and pursuing bids. The board scheduled another work session after the May 6 Selectmen’s meeting and then adjourned.

Action items recorded at the session included assigning Road Agent MacDuffie to obtain driveway pricing, Rollins’ provision of the original wetlands permit and septic design, Hoyt’s follow-up on an electrical overlay, and the formal vote waiving the bid process for the driveway access. The minutes indicate the document was later approved at the April 15, 2026 Board meeting.