Bellingham Selectboard Backs Road Program, Hears CPA Pitch From Residents

BELLINGHAM -- December 1, 2025, Bellingham Selectboard unanimously endorsed the town's pavement management program and heard a formal pitch for the Community Preservation Act at its December 1 meeting. DPW Director Jesse Riyle and project manager Barry Larivier told the board that 40 percent of the town's roughly 110-mile road network is rated in the two worst categories and that fully repairing only those roads, without touching drainage or sidewalks, would cost $18 million; the entire network would run $21 million. The town's overall road surface rating stands at 66.23, and Riyle said a minimum of $1.25 million per year is needed just to hold that number steady. Separately, Open Space Committee members Chad Kelly and Doug Martin presented a case for adopting a 1.5 percent Community Preservation Act surcharge, which they estimated would raise $647,135 annually from local property taxes, with state matching funds on top; the average homeowner would pay roughly $68 more per year. No vote was taken on CPA adoption; the board encouraged the pair to build public support ahead of a potential May 2026 town meeting warrant article. The board also accepted a $300 Elder Service donation to the fire prevention account and authorized a right-of-entry agreement with Algonquin Gas.