Ossipee Park Road

from Ossipee Park business CG Roxanne toward the reconstruction of the road, at a total cost of $992,000.Though the potential cause of the road damage is still controversial, with some blaming the CG Roxanne truck traffic, frost heaves and poor drainage were issues that the Louis Berger Group tried to combat through a new design for the road. A thicker road bed and a closed drainage system were among design specifications to minimize the water damage to the road. The LBG brought a potential amendment on the board’s design to the attention  of the selectmen. Testing on water bodies at the bottom of the Ossipee Park Road showed that sodium and chlorine levels are trending down, according to Town Administrator Carter Terenzini. With a better road, Terenzini said, the hope is that the road will need less salt. Despite the lowering levels, a closed drainage system, along with the two easements that would be needed to help with drainage, would likely cost another $110,000. The other option, modifying and improving the standing drainage system, would require no further easements. “It’s a no-win situation with drainage easements,” said Selectman Joel Mudgett. Staying with the old design, despite the fact that it would be moved to the opposite side of the road, would save the town about $100,000, according to Crawford. The culverts would be maintained and cleared, Crawford said. “We need to act on this quickly,” said Chair Karel Crawford. “Once things are put out to bid, it’s easiest and cost-effective to get them all together.” Cristina Ashjian, a resident concerned about theroad for several years, questioned the board about procedure and about the design of the road. In particular, Ashjian was concerned about what had happened in her four-month absence from Moultonboro. “For four years, our family has been concerned about this problem,” said Ashjian. “It would be useful to have a family representative at work sessions. I would request that they be informed when there is another work session.” Crawford noted that the board had tried to contact Ashjian several times during the past few months,but were informed that she was out of the country. Ashjian also asked the board about contingency plans put in place for the road, in the potential case of an accident or fuel spill, returning to the board next week to read a letter into the minutes stating her concern. Mudgett said that the Fire and Highway Departments in town had contingency plans for such events, although not for any specific road. The board voted unanimously to move forward with the design amendment.