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Richmond residents press town over contractor communication as new waterline fails pressure test
Summary
Residents told the select board and Water & Sewer Commission that contractor crews showed up unexpectedly, blocked driveways and damaged property while a new water main failed a pressure test; town staff said they will escalate contractor oversight and improve resident notices.
Richmond — Residents and commission members pressed town staff on July 20 over how the contractor for the waterline replacement has been scheduling work and communicating with neighbors after a pressure test on a new Tilden Avenue line failed.
Town staff reported the Tilden replacement line was filled and charged for a pressure test that reached 200 psi but then recently dropped and failed to hold pressure; crews will investigate leak points and retest, staff said. Bridge Street work is also underway to install a 12‑inch wet tap to connect the new line and flush Cochran Road using the fresh connection.
Multiple residents described inconsistent notifications from the contractor and multiple day‑of surprises. "Friday said that there would be no work on Cochran this weekend. At 7AM, they were in front of my house again," said Maria Brown, who added that tenants moving in on Aug. 3 are affected. Another resident said the crew broke a mailbox and repeatedly blocked a driveway without notice.
Town Manager Josh Arneson said he has relayed complaints to the contractor’s foreman and that the project foreman, Adam, followed up on at least some incidents. Arneson said staff will escalate the issue with senior contractor leadership and offered to arrange a follow‑up meeting with the contractor, the town engineer and commission members to review expectations.
Commissioners and staff recommended an on‑the‑ground meeting with senior project staff to establish a clearer escalation path; one commissioner volunteered to join the meeting and staff said they would schedule it. The board also discussed using commission members to meet the contractor on site so the contractor’s local leads and town staff can coordinate daily updates to affected neighbors.
Why it matters: The waterline project is designed to improve system reliability and is linked to other town infrastructure plans. Unplanned workdays and poor notification have disrupted residents and raised concerns about accountability and contractor oversight; staff said they will reinforce communication requirements and bring senior contractor personnel into direct meetings.
Next steps: Staff will ask the contractor to document and improve advance notifications, set up a meeting with senior contractor leadership to address conduct and scheduling, and report back to the commission on test results for the new Tilden line.
