WOODSTOCK — The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted Tuesday evening to accept a three-year, $25,300 mowing bid from resident Wesley Cox.

Cox would be paid $6,900 this year and $9,200 in 2015 and in 2016, for a total of $25,300, board Chairman Victor Young said. Cox would be responsible for mowing town properties and spring cleanup, he said.

Selectman Ron Deegan suggested the board approve Cox’s bid, pending a discussion with Town Manager Vern Maxfield, who would ensure that Cox completely understood the specifics.

Before voting to approve Cox’s bid, Deegan asked whether it made more economic sense to use the town’s road crew to do the mowing.

Public Works foreman Randy Eastman said it would leave him “very little time” to do the rest of his work.

“I rest my case then,” Deegan said.

“It’s definitely a discussion that needs to be had,” Young said.

In other business, the board voted to send bid requests for paving Lakeside Drive, Billings Hill Road, Curtis Hill Road, Railroad Street, Grove Street, Rocky Road and Harbor Road.

Deegan said receiving bids would give the board plenty of data to use in deciding which roads to pave first.

Maxfield told selectmen they had around $150,000 for the projects.

Eastman described Lakeside Drive as “a horror show” and said Billings Hill Road was “wicked bad.”

“Railroad Street is another one that’s chewed up pretty bad,” Eastman said. “We’re about at the point where there’s not much that patching up the road will do.”

Maxfield announced the town filed 80 tax liens in 2014 totaling $55,294. That down from 92 filed in 2013 totaling 75,710 and 93 filed in 2012 totaling $80,646.

“I think this speaks very well to the property owners in Woodstock,” Maxfield said.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

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