Road debate gets bumpy at contentious Orford Town Meeting
Modified: 5/22/2021 9:47:35 PM
ORFORD Road rage ran rampant at Orford’s Town Meeting on Saturday.
The state of the town’s roads and issues over the equipment to maintain them dominated the three-hour meeting, with one tense moment as two attendees went face-to-face and exchanged words near the floor microphone as others shouted for them to show restraint.
Voters passed a petitioned article, 42-38, for the Selectboard to form an Orford Town Road Commission that would comprise five residents with road and heavy-equipment experience to advise the Selectboard and Orford’s road agent “on issues that pertain” to the condition of the town’s roads and road equipment. The commission is also to “explore the possibility” of contracting with a private company to take over maintenance of the town’s roads from the town itself.