RANGELEY — The Select Board expressed dismay at Monday’s meeting when Earl Ross from the Road Committee reported that the new road surface on School Street is nine inches lower than the Town Office and Fire House parking lot, and extra excavation and paving will be required to connect the two levels.

When Ross approached project engineers from Hodsdon Engineering, he was told that the driveways were out of their contracted work area and would require an extra $3,986.

Town Clerk Ethna Thompson said the Town Office had just received the information Monday when Ross came by to check the site. Thompson checked her email during the selectmen’s meeting and came back with a new estimate from M&H Construction for $5,186.

The crews have laid down the reclaimed asphalt material and are working on the sub-base and base coats. They are scheduled to complete the work next Thursday. Crews will finish with the final coat next spring.

Saying they felt trapped by the unexpected expense, board members criticized the project’s engineers and asked Ross to speak with them to see if they would abide by their initial $3,986 estimate.

Since selectmen were unwilling to extend the project deadline, they authorized Ross to go as high as the $5,186 estimate.

The board announced a warrant to call a town meeting to vote on the Rangeley School’s request to spend $26,600 from its capital reserve fund to cover architect’s services. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Nov. 25.

Sandy River Waste Disposal, which has ceased operations, sent word that $20,569 will be the Rangeley’s share from the company’s disbursement of assets.

Town Manager Tiki White is on vacation this week and will begin her maternity leave next week, leaving fire Chief Tim Pellerin as interim town manager.

Reporting on the sewage pump station generator project, Keith Savage said that the pads and propane tanks were in place as of last Tuesday, and that two generators are in place as well, with the third to be installed Oct. 28-29. He praised M&H Construction and Dead River Propane for their work on the project.

The finished landscaping will be left for next spring.