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Residents raise safety concerns about West Road; Selectboard and road crew review plowing practice and signage
Summary
At the Jan. 5 meeting Sandgate residents and Selectboard members raised safety concerns about the Class IV section of West Road being open in winter but not plowed, discussed replacing fallen signage and clarified the town's day-after plowing practice; the road crew also reported equipment billing and salt supply issues.
The Sandgate Selectboard addressed multiple road and maintenance concerns at its Jan. 5 meeting after residents raised issues about West Road. Selectboard member Rob Viglas said the Class IV section of West Road remains open to traffic in winter but is not plowed, which he described as a hazard; he asked that the fallen "Class IV road not maintained" sign be replaced at the correct height and that an additional sign be placed at the Rupert Road/West Road intersection.
Board members noted that resident Mike Merrow had emailed the Selectboard about effects on his property from work done last year on West Road; Selectboard member Joe Nolan said he will discuss Merrow's email with Jay Wilson and that the Board will respond following the Jan. 19 meeting.
The minutes record a separate complaint from resident Constance West that her caretaker charged her to plow the Class IV portion of Tate Hill Road that she says the Town is responsible for plowing. According to the minutes, Jay (Road Crew) explained the Town's longstanding practice of plowing that portion the day after a storm, not on the day of the storm, and advised Ms. West to discuss timing with her caretaker.
In the Road Report the board noted an unexpected backhoe bill that the Town paid in full in 2024; Sandy Reidy said she will contact John Deere to investigate. Selectboard member Joe Nolan also said the Road Crew is having difficulty obtaining salt and is changing vendors. The board did not take a formal vote on roadway maintenance policy at the meeting; the items are slated for continued attention at the Jan. 19 meeting.
