By Meredith McCulloch
Director of Public Works Roy Sorenson presented a comprehensive plan for road maintenance to the Selectmen on November 2. Each year one-third of the roads are examined and rated by consultants from Fay, Spofford and Thorndike to develop a pavement management plan. Each road is rated on a five-point scale ranging from failed condition to excellent condition. Currently, the major roads are in excellent condition and now local roads and dead ends will be upgraded
The goal is to maintain the roads with a sustained level of funding, with about $600,000 to $700,000 coming from the Town capital budget plus state Chapter 90 funds of around $629,000 for a total of about $1.3 million dollars. To get all the roads in excellent condition would require an expenditure of $12,738,530, so it is necessary to set priorities.
The Chapter 90 funds may not be available at the levels received over the last three to four years. The state appropriation is currently only two-thirds of the requested amount, so local support may be reduced. According to Sorenson, both candidates for governor are supportive of additional funding, a goal that may have become more difficult following the reduction of the gasoline tax approved by voters in a November 4 ballot question. Gasoline taxes are dedicated to roads and bridges.
Selectman Mark Siegenthaler expressed concern that we focus entirely on roads and neglect the sidewalks. When Sorenson confirmed that sidewalks are not included in the study, Siegenthaler suggested a study on sidewalks be done as well.
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