What: A pavement core on the East Charlton Road mill-and-overlay project came back at 92.2 percent density, below the 92.5 percent contract requirement.
Where it stands: Follow-up samples were taken within about 10 feet and 50 feet of the failed core and the report was received July 27. The minutes do not record the results, any payment reduction or a final decision.
Next: Unknown from the minutes. Town Administrator Bridges was also to consult Town Counsel so future paving contracts state density requirements and penalties clearly.
Possibly stale: the latest information is from July 2026; no newer Select Board minutes are posted.
Vice-Chair Viner asked for clarification of the earlier report that the test results were acceptable. Town Administrator Bridges, Gary Kellaher and Doug Small said the core was taken about two feet from the road edge, where the existing base was poor, and that nuclear gauge readings during construction met the required density. Mr. Kellaher also reported that a roller had a mechanical problem but backup equipment was available.
Clerk C. Woodbury said the finished road appears to be a high-quality paving job but a failing test could not simply be disregarded.
Members discussed whether cores are representative on a two-inch mill-and-overlay, the contract's reference to MassDOT standards and consistent enforcement of bid specifications. When a core may not represent the sublot, two more cores can be taken and the three averaged. Town Administrator Bridges was to contact the contractor and testing firm, decide whether to take two more cores and calculate any payment reduction.
Town Administrator Bridges said the Board had received the report on the samples. Vice-Chair Viner asked where they were taken: one within 10 feet of the failed core and the other within 50 feet.
The Board discussed the MassDOT specification (cited as DOT 460-67): when testing finds nonconforming material in a sublot, the contractor isolates the sublot and performs additional testing to find the limits. Town Administrator Bridges said that had the additional testing failed, more extensive testing of the entire sublot would likely have been required.
2026-07-27 - Board received the follow-up sample report and discussed the MassDOT specification; no vote.
2026-06-29 - Core at 92.2 percent versus 92.5 percent required; Town Administrator to contact contractor and testing firm and calculate any payment reduction.