What: The completed Main Street and Ash Street sidewalk project has driveway transitions on Ash Street that were not built as the approved plans show. The Board is deciding how to get them fixed.
Where it stands: On July 27 the Board directed the contractor, B.R. Bak Enterprises, to remove and replace the noncompliant transitions at no additional cost; all five members voted yes.
Next: The contractor must make the corrections; Clerk C. Woodbury asked that someone represent the Town while the work is done. Town Administrator Bridges was also to seek clarification from the Architectural Access Board.
Possibly stale: the latest information is from July 2026; no newer Select Board minutes are posted.
Chris Lyman and B.R. Bak Enterprises met with the Board to review the finished project and remaining corrective work. Several Ash Street transitions were not built to the lengths on the approved plans.
Chris Lyman said the road grade, private walkways, a utility pole, limited curb reveal and closely spaced driveways made the transitions hard to build as designed. He warned that removing and rebuilding them could mean cutting into the new sidewalk, berm and roadway, creating seams that let water in. The grade at one address is about 12 percent and could not meet the required slope even with the maximum 15-foot transition.
The Board asked why the contractor departed from the plans without consulting the design engineer or getting Town authorization, and said the Town paid for professional plans and expected them to be followed. Members were concerned about accepting work that does not meet the contract just because it is hard to fix afterward.
Chris Lyman said the engineer's construction observation was not continuous: the Town had a time-and-materials allowance of up to $10,000 for requested visits, and the engineer was not asked to be present when the driveway transitions were installed.
Stamped concrete: the contractor used 4,000 PSI Egyptian Red concrete (standard color, color mixed at the batch plant as the specifications require, with surface hardener and sealant). Members said most of the project, including the roadway work and the area near the rock wall, looks well done.
Architectural Access Board: Town Administrator Bridges relayed that the person who issued the project's pedestrian crossing variances said the Board generally does not process variances for residential driveway transitions. Some members questioned that and wanted a clearer ruling; Town Administrator Bridges agreed to seek clarification.
Remedies discussed: value of the work not done as designed, corrective work, a payment reduction and other contract remedies. The contract has a performance bond and the contractor would bear corrective costs. Town Administrator Bridges will get cost and quantity information, review the contract and return to the Board.
Chris Lyman (by GoTo) reviewed each location: the transition at one Ash Street address is compliant because of the existing grade and maximum practical transition length; four others are noncompliant and must be rebuilt or covered by variance applications. He said rebuilding to the plans would not adversely affect the residences or existing walkways.
Plan discrepancy: grading plans show a four-inch curb reveal while the typical sections call for six inches.
Representatives of B.R. Bak Enterprises voiced concern about damaging the road and suggested filing for a variance rather than correcting the discrepancies. Members raised accessibility, liability and completing the work to the approved plans.
Motion to have B.R. Bak Enterprises correct the four noncompliant addresses (Selectman Grigg/Selectman Letendre); only Chairman Woodbury was recorded voting (yes).
Amendment to direct the contractor to remove and replace the noncompliant transitions at no additional cost (Vice-Chair Viner/Selectman Grigg); all five members voted yes.
Motion to rescind the original motion (Selectman Grigg/Selectman Letendre); all five members voted yes.
Clerk C. Woodbury said a Town representative should be on site when the work is done.
Public input: Matt Defosse said he was glad the Board held the standard on the sidewalk discrepancies and suggested the Board look into a prevailing party clause for future contracts.
2026-07-27 - Board voted to direct B.R. Bak Enterprises to remove and replace noncompliant transitions at no added cost; earlier motion rescinded. Matt Defosse suggested a prevailing party clause.
2026-06-29 - Board reviewed the finished project with the engineer and contractor; Town Administrator to price the deficiencies, seek Architectural Access Board clarification and review contract remedies.