Selectmen unhappy with roadwork

WOODSTOCK —  Although Woodstock's roads are finally getting paved, selectmen said they are not happy with the quality of work being done. 

"I am seeing things I am not happy with," said Town Manager Vern Maxfield at the October 2 board meeting. 

Bruce Manzer was hired by the town to complete summer road repairs, but the town is not pleased with work done so far. 

Selectman Rick Young noted there were no flaggers on Old County Road, which is a safety violation. "When we are doing work, we have flaggers and they should as well," Young said of the workers. 

Selectman Steve Bies commented that the town "is not getting good work for our money," especially after hearing comments about other town roads Manzer's worked on. 

In response, Selectman Ronald Deegan suggested the board "tighten up" its request for proposals. 

Maxfield said due to the late start, a completion date for roadwork is set for next year. He noted that roadwork is usually completed by July. 

In other news, the planning board will review the newly-proposed wind power ordinance at its next meeting, October 16. 

It was also reported that there was a break-in at the G & W Transfer Station on September 28, after the perpetrator cut the fence. Nothing was stolen, said selectmen, but they surmised the perpetrator was after fuel. 

In response, locking caps will be put on all diesel and oil tanks, selectmen said. They reported that the Greenwood Highway Department has since repaired the fence.

Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman told the board she sent a letter to a property owner on Gore Road who illegally cut trees in the shoreline zoning. She notified him that the assessed penalty has doubled.

Corey-Whitman said the violator was fined $1,875, but has failed to take remedial action within the prescribed time frame. 

Selectmen scheduled a public hearing on October 16 on a request to open a portion of Billings Hill Road to winter maintenance. Letters have been sent to abutters and a notice will be in the local newspapers.

Selectmen will also discuss a proposal to digitize all old town records.