Meeting Date: January 28, 2026
4:30PM, Warwick Town Hall
- Meeting called to order by Bob Croke at 4:40 PM
- Commission Members: Bob Croke, Todd Dexter. Vern Bass arrived at 5:15 PM
Others in attendance: Superintendent Matt Dorgan
- Announcements and Introductions: Alan would like a copy of the approved minutes sent to his town e mail address. This will allow an accurate review with the Select Board.
- Jan 5, 2025 (meeting was continued to 1/7, those minutes are incorporated with the 1/5 minutes) and January 21, 2025 Meeting Minutes:
Members reviewed prior meeting minutes, no revisions or omissions were made.
Bob made a MOTION to ACCEPT the minutes as read, Todd SECONDED. Motion CARRIED 2-0-0
- Discussions and reports:
NOTE: Bob asked if we could move to Unanticipated Business. Commissioners agreed to move up the agenda and return to Discussions and reports once finished. - Superintendent’s Report:
Matt said the department has been working overtime almost weekly due to the storms. Some have had long duration causing extended hours of operation. Bob asked about the road salt treatments. He feels the department has been using excessive amounts of salt and asked if the department could reduce the amount of product being applied. To date the department has purchased 197 tons of salt since September 30th, with a budget total of $87,123.39 has been spent to date from the Snow & Ice account. Matt said there have been many ice events, also heavier storms than last year leading to more product use. Matt also said Leed Salt, who is the low bidder through FERCOG has run out of material. He has had to order salt from the next approved vendor in line, which is Eastern Minerals. He has three truck loads on order right now at $104.00 per ton. The Commissioners agreed that the department needs to use more of a sand salt mix to conserve on resources. They also agreed in hilly areas or events where more salt is needed that it can be applied straight. Leed Salt’s price per ton is $98.70.
The current Snow & Ice budget is getting close to depletion. The Superintendent will have to attend the next Select Board meeting to discuss deficit spending for the rest of the winter season. The board meets on 2/16. Town Coordinator David Young will place the request on their agenda. - Budget, Grant Updates & Bill sign-off:
A. Commission members signed off on all invoices for the next warrant. Bob will turn the packet over to Tracy Styles for processing.
B. Bob would like to apply for the next round of road paving grants for the Northfield Road. He said the section from Bass Road back to the Wendell Road intersection is beginning to crack. For the time being, crack sealing should be done this construction season.
C. Tracy had sent a note (absent from the meeting) stating that she has found another vendor to replace JJ Keller for safety compliance posters. Their fees have climbed to an unsustainable cost and Tracy has asked for a vote to allow her to move to a new supplier.
Bob made a MOTION to allow Administrative Assistant, Tracy Styles to move ahead with a new vendor for safety posters for the highway department, Todd SECONDED. Motion APPROVED 3-0-0
D. Administrative Duties: Tracy will be assuming more of the administrative duties for the department. Additional hours have been proposed, she said she is interested. Further discussion will take place at the next meeting.
- Truck Updates / Maintenance:
A. Matt said there have been lots of repairs on all of the equipment. The storms and cold weather have taken a toll. The one ton trucks are getting tired, one is a 2009 and the other, 2012. The 2009 had a frame replacement 4-5 years ago and the 2012 has lots of rot and is very tender. The Commissioners have asked Matt to begin preparing specs and seek out bids for a replacement to include a stainless steel sander insert.
B. The Commission came to a consensus to move on final specifications and bids for a new rubber tired excavator for the department. Matt has three different manufacturers he has been looking into. Bob told Matt we need three quotes due to procurement laws which is required for anything over $10,000. This will be funded with Chapter 90 funds. Chris Bouchard from DOT district 2 had explained at a previous meeting that funds need his approval before reimbursement. He also said the machinery has to be for construction purposes and that Ch. 90 will not pay for mower heads. The mower head will be funded from the machinery budget.
- Road Grader:
Matt has been looking at specs. The Dirt Roads grant was submitted which would fund $250,000 of the cost with Chapter 90 funding the balance. Matt informed the Commission he has a certificate of completion for the grader training through the state. The Town would gain some recognition with grant acceptance if we have department employees certificates submitted with the grant application. Matt will get a copy to Tracy. - Unanticipated Business: (Agenda was move to this as the first line item for discussion)
Bob brought up the 1/27 snow storm concerns brought by the Superintendent of Warwick Community School. The concern was due to school being canceled the same morning within two hours of the 8:00 AM start time. Notice of cancelation is hard to get to parents and staff in such a short time. Highway Superintendent Matt Dorgan had called the school superintendent with concerns of icing roads and the inability for the road treatment to activate at -8 degrees F. Matt was very concerned about the Old Winchester Road were cell service is limited or non-existent. He had to wait to plow and treat some of the roads due to harsh conditions. The school would like to meet with him and try to formulate an action plan if these sorts of events occur in the future. Todd asked if he had spoken with the school superintendent to set up a time and date to meet. He said they are meeting Friday, 1/30 at 11:30 AM. The Commission supports Matt’s call to shut the roads down to busing for the students and driver’s safety. He will report back to the Commission on their action plan at the next meeting. (Returned to the top of the agenda) - Citizen’s Concerns and suggestions for future agenda items: None
- Adjourned: Meeting will be continued to January 7, 2026 at 5:30 PM at the Town Hall. Bob made the MOTION to Adjourn, Vern SECONDED, CARRIED 3-0-0
Adjourned at 6:36 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Todd Dexter
Commission Member
Documents referred to at this meeting:
Updated 2026 Highway budget spread sheet
Leed Salt Account Statement 1/26/2026
January 28th Meeting Agenda