Board wants firm to correct failed paving project

NEWFANE — The Selectboard is asking Lane Construction why the town's recent $211,000 investment in blacktop on South Wardsboro Road is falling apart.

At the Dec. 5 Selectboard meeting, Todd Lawley, who is the town's road foreman/commissioner and Selectboard vice-chair, reported that the road is “coming up where it shouldn't be.”

He recalled that Fred Cheney, a paving foreman for the Northfield, Mass., company, blamed a sudden October rainstorm that “soaked all of our products” and turned paving material into a “mess.”

Cheney said at the time his company was committed to setting the matter straight, and would look at conditions in spring 2014.

That's not soon enough, Lawley now says.

“My recommendation is that the Board write Lane Construction a letter that there's already potholes starting on that,” and that a copy be sent to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, which funded the work through a grant.

“-And that [if there are] any further problems they [Lane] will be held responsible,” put in Board Chair Jon Mack.

In October, Cheney told the Selectboard, “One thing we do is we stand behind our work. We always have, and I think you folks know that.”

In other road business on Dec. 5, the Selectboard welcomed Lawley's son Todd, also a Newfane resident, who'd been approved at a recent Selectboard meeting to work with the town's road crew on an emergency basis. Todd Lawley had abstained from that discussion and vote.

On being welcomed, Nick Lawley said simply, “Thank you. I hope I can help out.”

As well, Todd Lawley reported on a number of dead trees to be cleared, an uptick in salting and sanding, maintenance issues with some older vehicles, and an abundance of leaves that his crew was busy removing from culverts as well.

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