Select Board reviews paving and grant options for West Road; costs and grant match discussed

Highway staff presented two main options for West Road: a more extensive reclaim-and-rebuild (2.5" base plus a 1.5" top) and a cheaper shim/top option that would be less costly now but likely shorter lived. The proposals included contractor estimates of tonnage and per-ton costs; members emphasized that figures were estimates subject to market changes.

A board member cautioned that the difference in cost was significant but that base work (grinding and rebuilding) would extend the pavement's life. "These prices are just estimates and everything subject to market price at the time of payment," a highway representative said during the discussion. Board members noted a likely paving-grant cap (often shown as around $175,000 in discussion) and debated whether to apply for the full scope or a smaller portion so the town would not be forced to complete the largest, most expensive option if grant funding changed.

The board reviewed highway reserve balances and projected spending: the highway surplus was reported at roughly $124,000 with planned spending around $60,000 under current proposals, leaving limited flexibility if bids escalate. Members discussed sequencing work, waiting for grant decisions, and prioritizing culvert repairs and troublesome sections before committing to large repaving projects.