HARTFORD — Selectmen on Thursday night debated road work and approved a construction permit for a shed to store wood for residents in need next winter.
The shed will be built at the home of Ronald Darling on Town Farm Road for the Hartford Community Church, which sponsors the wood supply.
Board Chairman Lee Holman likened it to a food bank, providing for those in need.
Also Thursday, Road Commissioner Jeremy Johnson, who was criticized at the annual town meeting for not attending meetings and failure to file reports, asked for approval to work on a stretch of Church Street from Berry Mahoney Road to Pine Shore Drive.
Selectmen had been reviewing a work plan developed by the Road Committee and Church Street was not on the list for 2014-15.
Johnson said doing small sections of several roads would cost more money that one big project.
Holman said the project needed to go out to bid.
Johnson said he could do Church Street and Guerney Hill Road with money in his budget.
Holman said having a bid would give officials and townspeople something to compare to Johnson’s estimate.
“You don’t want it to go to bid,” Bim McNeil said. “We elected a road commissioner and we have good roads. Let him do it.”
Road Committee member Harley Swanson agreed with McNeil, but said the bid process might save money.
McNeil said a contractor would be looking at doing the work the cheapest.
“Johnson would do the work and anticipate problems. He would do the best job,” he said.
“There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion,” Morrill Nason said.
McNeil asked the board to let Johnson do the Guerney Hill Road.
Selectmen Cathy Lowe and Peggy Poskus voted in favor of McNeil’s proposal; Holman abstained from voting.
The board unanimously agreed to let Johnson prepare Church Street for paving while he was doing Guerney Hill Road.
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