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SPENCER – Going forward, an engineer will be more consistently on site when major roadwork is taking place, suggested Town Administrator Jeff Bridges. His statement followed a discussion about the Ash and Main Street Sidewalk Project, which was completed last year and is grant-funded.
Selectmen met with Chris Lynam, the project engineer, during the board’s last meeting on June 29.
At issue are concerns about a few Ash Street spots where contractors did not meet design specifications with transitions as well as questions remaining about American with Disability Act (ADA) compliance.
Lynam said to correct the issues now would “make matters worse” because when you make cuts (in what is a brand-new roadway), there is danger of infiltration and rotting even if sealed.
The engineer said there were ways the contractor could have worked around challenges during the installation and accomplished what was designed.
Concerning ADA compliance involving driveways, Bridges and Lynam said they had been told by the ADA Commission that variances are not required in those cases. The focus is on curb and wheelchair ramps, said Lynam, while Bridges noted the town did receive variances for crossings and crosswalks.
Selectmen asked for the name of the Commission person who voiced that opinion, with chair Gary Woodbury said that not requiring compliance “makes no sense.”
Chris Woodbury said the town got “incomplete work,” and asked why the contractors deviated from the designs and “what got lost in translation?” He said it is not the first time the town has dealt with work not being done to plan. “Every single project goes in the crapper and I’m sick and tired of it.”
Bridges said the solution would be to have on-site representation by an engineer every time work is being done. Gary Woodbury and Norman Letendre called this action, “extreme,” and “overkill.”
On this project, Lynam explained the town had a contract agreeing to allocate up to $10,000 for an engineer to make observations on site. The cost per day for those services is approximately $400 to $500. No construction oversight was requested when installation of these areas was taking place, Lynam said.
Bridges repeated that oversight when paving in the future was key. “That’s short money to make sure it is done properly.”
Vice chair Jonathan Viner asked if the town wants to pay for a product that is “not what we’re expecting with ADA requirements or roll the dice and say, `it’s good enough?’” He requested a signed written document from the architectural access board stating the work was fine as is.
“They don’t process ADA issues on driveways, only on pedestrian ways and public ways,” Bridges replied, adding that he would seek the relevant regulation on the matter.
Bridges said he understood the board’s frustration and shared it but added, “I would hate to think this project is trash because it’s really not. There’s been a lot of good work put into that road.”
“I agree but we still didn’t get what we paid for,” Gary Woodbury said.
Whether mostly grant-funded or not, Jared Grigg noted, it ultimately (impacts) the taxpayers.
Committee assignments discussed
Selectmen also discussed committee assignments as representatives to other boards.
Chair Gary Woodbury said he is in favor of having Grigg continue to serve as representative on the regional dispatch committee because “he’s knee deep in that.”
Viner said liaisons should be voted on by the entire board and not by chair appointment, the current policy.
Chris Woodbury said it would make sense for him to be the representative to the Capital Improvement Planning Committee (CIPC), as he served on that board for 9 ½ years. But Grigg said, in what is “likely his last year on this board,” he wanted to keep his current roles and not look for extra assignments.
The board will address the issue at its next meeting on July 14
In other business, the Board of Selectmen:
- Approved an extension of Fire Chief Robert Parsons’ contract and ratified an employment agreement with Police Lt. Patrick Waugh. These actions followed an executive session during the meeting.
Heard from Bridges that the town is accepting applications for the interim treasurer/collector’s position. He explained selectmen would be responsible for appointing the individual because the position is elected. Rebecca Forand is leaving for a job in Sutton.
