Finance Committee challenges Weston's 70-PCI road policy and $25 million implied price tag

WESTON — February 25, 2021 — Weston Finance Committee questions the math behind a 10-year, $25 million road policy. Members John McDonald and John Sally pressed DPW Director Tom Cullen on the $2.5 million annual consultant target underlying the town's policy of bringing every road to a Pavement Condition Index of 70 — a per-road minimum McDonald said does not appear in the 2014-15 study and was added by Select Board member Chris Houston. The FY22 budget proposes $1.8 million for roads atop roughly $470,000 in Chapter 90 aid; FY21 was cut to $1.482 million. Cullen reported 17.08 of 38.15 deficient miles resurfaced — 44.8 percent — since the study. "The numbers just don't add up," Sally said. Finance Director Susan Kelley will produce a year-by-year spending-and-miles comparison before the committee finalizes its budget position. Police Chief Steven Goulding's request for four body cameras was deferred pending expected grant funding under the new state police reform law.