Select Board delays paving decision for road near fire station amid grant, budget questions

Grafton Select Board members discussed competing bids, grant funding and the town’s share of a paving project near the fire station during the Sept. 8 emergency meeting and chose not to take immediate action.

A committee member (speaker S3) raised concerns that one bid was roughly $20,000 higher than the other and that the lower bid may not have followed specifications. Board members cited a grant amount referenced during the discussion — speakers referred to figures of about $160,000 and $200,000 at different points — and noted the town would be responsible for roughly 20% of the grant-covered cost. Members debated whether to proceed this fall or to wait until spring and rebid in order to preserve grant eligibility and improve competition.

One board member (speaker S2) moved to reject the two bids for winter work and defer the project until spring to address payment and budgeting issues, but no one seconded the motion and the board did not adopt it. Members asked staff to obtain clarification from the road foreman and other contractors and to return with clear cost estimates and an updated budget implication before the next meeting.

Board members also discussed small interim measures such as winter patching and noted contractor availability: one contractor (referred to in the transcript as "Basins") told staff they could not complete the work this fall. The board agreed to revisit the matter at the next regular meeting after receiving more complete cost and scheduling information.