WOODSTOCK — The lowest bid Woodstock town officials received for repair of the Bacon Bridge on Old County Road was $780, 000. Its own highway department, with help from Ken Koskela, who acted as a general contractor, rebuilt the bridge for $350,000.

“That was a huge job for a small town road crew,” said Town Manager Vern Maxfield at the Woodstock Board of Selectmen meeting on Dec 6 at the Town Office. “I’ve been so proud of my crew [Josh Campbell, road foreman, Jon Campbell, Randy Eastman, and Rick Farnum] that they would take that on and do it. Ken Koskela has always been a local contractor. He was the road foreman for years. He’s always worked with my crew, a highly respected man. He did all the initial planning. He set up the schedules for the crane and the bridge. Then he got sick and he couldn’t continue, but he was on the phone with them throughout the project.”

Chair of the Woodstock Board of Selectmen Ronald Deegan did the project breakdown, “Total project was $348,166.87. Fisheries grant, $125,000. Town budgeted in 2022, $75,000. Town budgeted in 2021, $75,000. Town budgeted in 2020, $50,000. Add that together, back that out of $348, 166.87.  We’re only into it for $23,166.87. That’s all we’ve got to find now. That’s keeping the bills under control.” Maxfield explained that the town earlier approved a $500,000. bond for the project.

Further good news from Maxfield, was that the state is in the process of inspecting the bridge, and since they are over the span of 20 feet (bank to bank) the state will start to maintain it.

Other business

Another bridge, on Andrews Road, was hit by a car that went off the road. It hit the guard rail on one side so hard that it bounced to the other, damaging both sides. The accident occurred on Nov. 11.  James Foster, of the DOT said there was not structural damage and not to bother filing, because the insurance company will likely fight a claim. He suggested they get a local concrete person to go form it up and fill the cracks.

“It was a banner morning,” said Maxfield. “The state has, on line, in the shoot to put new guard rails on their bridge right by the casket company, (not far from the Andrews Bridge). They are the ones that go inside the concrete so the car can just slide by. ‘I would recommend you do that on your bridge.” Maxfield relayed from Foster. Rerouting the water to combine the bridges and give the state the responsibility of adding the rails, wasn’t a possibility.

There was brief talk of burning brush on Rumford Avenue. “There’s a process,” said Deegan. “I know we went to that different system,” said BOS member Shawn Coffin [possibly explaining why a permit was not pulled].

“Planning Board and Conservation didn’t meet in the last month.” said the lone audience member Bob McQueeney.

Nor did, G and W (Greenwood and Woodstock) meet. Coffin suggested they meet in December to talk about tires and to close out the year.

Maxfield said the cemetery committee will talk to a group interested in “green burials.”

Maxfield said he would plan to bring an initial draft budget to their next meeting.

The four, including Selectman Jeffrey Campbell, Jr., talked about the seven 2020 foreclosures on the books. Maxfield didn’t file liens on three of them because “those were fees and other incidentals.” But seven were still outstanding. “One person pays three years out every year,” said Maxfield. “Cheaper to borrow money from us then the bank,” said Coffin.

After the meeting, Maxfield explained, “We send out a tax bill in the first week of August they are due Dec. 1 and interest starts Dec. 2. It accrues all the time until they are paid.  These (seven) accounts have two and a half years of interest on them. It accrues at 4% interest, set by the state. I’m quite confident that all these will get paid. The state law is such that tomorrow (Dec. 7) at the close of business the Town of Woodstock owns those properties. Period. It’s just the way the law is written. In order to get them back to the owner we have to do a quick claim deed (a deed that is not guaranteed, no title search is done on it), if it goes that far. We have made payment plans with people. We set a deadline to get it paid. We can’t let it drag on and on.”

The Town of Woodstock is participating in the Village Improvement Partnership. They have applied and the process is in place for grant funding from the state. The area that would be upgraded is on South Main Street (Rt. 26). The upgrade would start at the bottom of the hill, where 26 and Rumford Avenue meet, and would go north to the ballfield. The state would pay 60% of the project and the town would pay the remaining 40%. Those costs include both design and construction. The initial estimate was confusing, so they tabled it until they could get clarification.

A $50,000 Resiliency Grant was awarded to Woodstock to install heat pumps at different facilities. “Just need to find someone to do it.” said Deegan. “If we get contracts signed we’re good,” said Maxfield.

There was discussion about why the town pays $250 per year to Lewiston/Auburn for a septic fee. They tabled it for more information. “I know it’s only $250 but it adds up.” said Deegan.

Deegan then read the new General Assistance ordinance effective Oct, 1 and called the hearing to order. “It was $3,500. (the GA budget). We upped it this year,” Said Deegan. “So those people that are coming for the one night stay, can we double their taxes? As a citizen, I don’t like it. And I’m working on a way to fix it… If you stay at certain places they send you here to collect your money then you go back and pay them to stay there. One night in town then you can come here and get free money?” said Coffin.

Maxfield later explained, “People have gone to the Mollyockett Motel. Then they come to us asking if we can pay it because they are homeless. There are times we have to pay it. They have to apply. I have to know all the details, bank accounts, everything. The Town of Woodstock has paid for six or eight nights this year. It’s happening everywhere,” said Maxfield. The selectmen voted to adopt the General Assistance ordinance.

Wanda York is doing food preparation for the Christmas Buffet this year at Town Hall for the town employees and the ad hoc committee members. Chile and macaroni and cheese are on the menu.

The meeting was under an hour and ended on a high note when Maxfield mentioned that the town dug a hole for Bill and Ellie Newell’s lending library. “It will be beside the granite steps in Andrew Corner,” said Maxfield.

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