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Highway foreman reports paving schedule, equipment problems and hiring plan
Summary
Highway representative Neal Huntoon told the Selectmen the lower half of Sanborn Hill will be paved this year, the remainder in 2026 after repairs; he’s seeking a part‑time plow operator (monthly stipend $250, $26.50/hour) and flagged a loader with transmission issues that needs budgeting for replacement.
Neal Huntoon reported to the Board of Selectmen on Oct. 15 that the Highway Department will pave the lower half of Sanborn Hill this year, with the remaining segment scheduled for 2026 once repairs at the top of the hill are completed. He said the department will present its 2026 budget at the Dec. 8 meeting.
Huntoon said the department is recruiting a part-time plow operator and has an individual in mind; the position would pay $26.50 per hour plus a monthly stipend of $250, and, because it is part-time, would not include benefits. He asked the board to note that wages for this role are already built into the 2025 budget.
On equipment, Huntoon described ongoing problems with the bucket loader: the engine runs but once at operating temperature the transmission starts to slip. The loader, purchased in 1986, has more than 14,000 hours, and Huntoon said Caterpillar believes a hydraulic pump may be slipping; he recommended budgeting for a replacement and will bring cost estimates to the Dec. 8 meeting. He also said he will travel to Reading, Vt., to pick up a snow plow for the grader and will be reimbursed $500 by the town.
Huntoon also passed along an observation from resident Sean Gaherty that a black Audi had been dumping debris at the top of Sanborn Hill; Gaherty provided a plate number to Police Chief Patrick Zullo, who said he is tracking down individuals observed doing the same.
The board did not take immediate staffing or purchase actions during the meeting; Huntoon will return with budget numbers and replacement estimates at the December meeting.
