Selectboard approves request for bids for road work, directs sheriff to serve tax-deeded notices and signs, signs manifest

At its Dec. 16 meeting, the Stratford Selectboard approved several administrative actions, including authorizing a request for bids for road work, ordering sheriff service for tax-deeded properties and signing routine financial and record items.

Suzanne Goulet told the board that Lynch, LLC informed the town the 2024 water and sewer contract will increase; the proposed contract revisions were provided for review and tabled to a future meeting so alterations can be made. Separately, the board voted unanimously to put out a request for bids (RFB) to seek contractors for work on Stevens Terrace and Bog Road; the minutes say the contract language will be updated to ensure scope and expectations are clear.

On tax-deeded properties, the minutes state certified-mail attempts produced no signed returns. The board approved, 3-0, the next step of having a sheriff deliver the documents and post signs on the properties.

The board also signed the manifest for Nov. 4, 2024 (approved Macdonald/Juergens/Goulet) and recorded various signed documents (reservations for Fournier, Juergens oath, MS-60W audit waiver, MS-60A auditor option). The meeting record notes several routine items for future consideration: approval of selectboard minutes from Nov. 18 and Dec. 2; an abatement request (Bassett); perambulation between Stratford and Stark; and a driveway permit for Roth.

Why it matters: approving an RFB moves repair work toward contracting and potential road repairs; authorizing sheriff service is a legal-enforcement step in the tax-deed process and changes how the town proceeds with properties where certified-mail delivery failed.

Next steps: the contract revisions for water and sewer will return to the board for further review; bids will be solicited for Stevens Terrace and Bog Road work; sheriff service and signage will be executed as the next step for the listed tax-deeded properties.