Public Works director defends shifting some paving funds to cover one‑time town needs; Selectmen debate bond vs. annual increases

Public Works Director Leo Osard told the Selectmen and Budget Advisory Committee that, while paving needs remain significant, he proposed holding the 2026 operating paving allocation at $300,000 (rather than previously higher levels) to help accommodate other urgent town needs identified this year.

Osard said a portion of prior warrant‑article funds remains unspent and available — roughly $180,000 by his estimate — but warned that some infrastructure projects require seasonal work or utility coordination and cannot be completed until spring. He described the town’s road‑surface management study that showed an ideal annual investment well above current levels; depending on the scenario the study placed a multi‑year target between roughly $1.4M and $2.2M annually to bring all town roads to targeted standards over a 10‑year window.

The proposal prompted a lengthy exchange. Several Selectmen and BAC members argued the department has been underfunded for years and that repeatedly cutting paving budgets is counterproductive because delaying maintenance increases repair costs. Others acknowledged the immediate fiscal pressure on the town budget — particularly unexpected benefit and insurance costs — and favored a short‑term compromise: reduce the operating paving number now but place a warrant article on the 2026 ballot to secure additional funds (for example a $500,000 warrant article) and use the multi‑year procurement plan as the basis for a future bond discussion.

Board members discussed the trade‑offs between a large bond (one time, interest cost but large immediate purchasing power) and incremental annual increases (no bond interest but limited year‑to‑year flexibility). Several members recommended staff develop clearer scenarios — including the cost to reclaim deteriorated roads if work is postponed — and to model a bond vs. pay‑as‑you‑go plan for voters.

Next steps: Public Works will supply a clearer pavement‑needs report and a warrant‑article draft for the board and BAC to consider; staff also proposed a public education plan so voters can see what any warrant article would buy.