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Road agent calls culvert plan "extravagant," urges redesign after $40,000 estimate
Summary
Fire Chief and Road Agent MacDuffie told the board he had obtained a design estimate that would put the culvert at about $40,000, said a 4-foot plastic culvert would likely suffice at under $10,000, and proposed the town seek a redesign and contact the wetland’s designer for revised plans.
Fire Chief and Road Agent MacDuffie told the Salisbury Board of Selectmen on Feb. 18 that a current culvert design would drive costs to roughly $40,000 and that the town should pursue a simpler alternative.
"Just the culvert would be $40,000 dollars," MacDuffie told the board, and he said a 4-foot plastic culvert "would likely be sufficient and less than $10,000 dollars." MacDuffie characterized the existing plan as "extravagant" and said the town should have the plan redesigned; he said he will reach out to the wetland’s designer.
No board vote was taken on the culvert design during the meeting. The board had previously approved a separate procurement action to accept a $2,545 quote for overhead doors, but MacDuffie’s remarks signaled a potential capital cost question that may require re-scoping or additional estimates before the town proceeds with work on the highway property.
What happens next: MacDuffie will contact the wetland designer to request a redesign and revised estimates; the board did not record a timeline for receiving that work on the public record. The matter could return to a future meeting for formal action if redesign or new bids affect the town’s budget.
