Oakham Select Board Sends Disputed Plow Truck Contract to Town Counsel

Select Board · Meeting of June 1, 2026

Oakham Select Board refers disputed plow truck contract to town counsel, citing conflicting accounts of whether the agreement is binding. Highway Superintendent Michael Granger told the board Monday that both a Ballard Mac sales representative and the body upfitter said the December 2025 order could be canceled without penalty, but a letter from Ballard Mac Vice President Brian Buckley contradicted those assurances. With roughly $210,000 in uncommitted chapter 90 funds — not enough for a replacement purchase — the board declined to vote on cancellation, instead directing that Buckley's letter be forwarded to counsel identified as "KP" and that a holding reply be sent to the dealer.

The board also unanimously approved a vacation carryover for Granger through end of September, authorized the chair to sign road acceptance letters for Old School House Road and Skyline Drive, voted to send the annual town meeting warrant to town counsel for review, and entered executive session on non-union personnel negotiations.

In the full story:

• Background and stakes
• The question before the body
• Substantive content
• The deliberation
• Procedural steps and outcome
• Implications and what is next
• The complete report — 2,106 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of June 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.