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Select Board authorizes staff to press contractor and engineer over culvert work on North Road
Summary
After extended public concerns about culvert placement and drainage on North Road, the Select Board authorized two officials to send written correspondence to the prime contractor (Pike) and to seek corrections that the board says should not be at town expense.
A motion approved by the Royalton Select Board authorizes town officials to press the contractor and engineer to correct culverts and related drainage work that residents say were installed improperly.
The board voted to authorize Larry and Ryan to correspond directly with Pike, the prime contractor on the North Road project, and to push back on change orders if work is not built to spec. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Residents and board members described multiple problems at several locations on North Road including culverts placed at the wrong angle, short culvert inlets that have narrowed driveway turning radii, and sections where fabric and stone were not installed as expected. During public comment a resident said the project felt “like a Lamborghini” and warned the town was facing “about 1,000,000 dollars over budget” on the work; board members responded that staff has been visiting sites and will follow up with Pike and the project engineer.
One committee member said the town has repeatedly flagged installation issues in the field and that the contract places responsibility on the prime contractor for subcontractor performance. The board asked staff to copy the project engineer and to request written assurances and estimates from Pike about proposed fixes.
The board later broadened the instruction, voting that Larry and Ryan should draft a formal letter requesting Pike fix the specific items the board believes are out of spec “not at the town expense.” That motion also passed on a voice vote.
The Select Board did not impose a specific financial penalty at the meeting; it instead directed staff to obtain written estimates and correspondence that clarify whether proposed corrective work will be billed to the contractor or require additional town funding. The board recorded the authorization during the meeting’s North Road discussion and said it expects further updates once Pike and the engineer respond in writing.
