Orford Selectboard flags $55,000 rise in paving costs, narrows scope of planned work

Road Agent Nutter told the Orford Selectboard on April 22 that the estimated cost for the paving projects authorized by Warrant Articles 9 and 10 has risen by about $55,000 since the town’s November 2025 estimate, driven in part by higher oil prices. The board instructed Nutter to obtain a contractor price to reclaim only the section described in Warrant Article 10 rather than proceed with the full scope at the current bids, noting that the warrant articles remain valid for three years.

Nutter also reported a contractor estimate of $22,000 to repair guardrails on the Mousley Brook bridge. Because that cost is higher than the board expected, members agreed to prepare a warrant article proposing use of funds from the Road Improvement Capital Reserve Fund for 2027 rather than expend cash this year.

To accommodate upcoming work, Nutter said the highway crew will shift to four 10‑hour workdays starting May 4 and that he plans to rent an excavator for two weeks to replace culverts. The chair noted the town may need to request additional funds if prices do not drop before the warrant articles expire.

Why it matters: the paving and bridge repairs affect town roads relied on by residents and will determine whether the town can complete both projects within the current budget cycle or must ask voters for more funds at a future town meeting. The board’s decision to narrow the immediate scope preserves flexibility while keeping the warrant authorization in place.

The report also included routine operational details: schedule changes for the highway crew and short‑term equipment rental to support culvert replacement. No formal vote was recorded to alter the warrant articles themselves during the meeting; the board instead directed staff to obtain revised contractor pricing and to prepare a 2027 warrant article for guardrail work.