Gilford Selectboard votes against timber guardrails upgrade for new public works garage

GILFORD — Construction of the $11.2 million public works building remains on track, and on Wednesday the selectboard opted to save nearly $4,500 by voting down a request to include timber guardrails rather than steel.

Vice Chair Gus Benavides moved to approve spending $4,480 to install timber guardrails, and Clerk Richard Grenier seconded the motion for discussion. Grenier asked what prompted the change, and Town Administrator Scott Dunn told the board it was for aesthetics. The guardrail in question is along the new retaining wall.

“If it was an old building in the historical district, I’d say 'yeah,' in a heartbeat,” Grenier said. “But I don’t know. I mean, it is a steel building with steel guardrails.”

Dunn said the steel guardrails are not attractive, something Grenier agreed with but said that means more than $4,000 of taxpayer money for aesthetics. Grenier asked if this was a valid concern, and despite ultimately voting in favor of timber guardrails, Benavides understood Grenier’s reservations.

“It’s $4,400 worth of a valid concern,” Benavides said.

Benavides asked Public Works Director Meghan Theriault, aesthetics aside, what the life expectancy is of a guardrail made of timber compared with steel. She did not have the answer, but Benavides said he asked because this will likely be in front of a board in the distant future, when they ultimately need to be replaced.

Theriault said she has had both kinds during her time in Gilford and also Goffstown, and often over bridges there are wooden guardrails. The only time maintenance was needed was when a car hit it.

“When a car hits a regular W-beam, and when a car hits a wooden one, and there’s damage, it’s usually end units that get hit, and usually end units that you need to fix,” Theriault said. “Never have I had to full out replace a big wooden guardrail.”

She said she has never been in a position where a guardrail has reached the end of its useful life, and they will last “decades.”

“They’re both going to serve the purpose of protecting cars from the edge as they’re supposed to, and as Scott said, the other thing is the aesthetics of it,” Theriault said. “I was planning on putting some type of shrubbery or something back there, to just break up that big open space in the wall, and to protect people from walking there.”

She said the guardrail and landscaping are for aesthetics, as well as safety. Typically, wooden guardrails are found where aesthetics matter, but engineering-wise, she didn’t see much difference.

“I certainly wouldn’t be like, 'Let’s put wooden guardrails everywhere,' because they are slightly more expensive,” Theriault said.

She said this was brought up months back, and put on hold.

Chair Chan Eddy said this is a “pretty decent chunk of change.”

“That adds up, it really does,” Eddy said. “It’s something you really have to kind of think on. It’s so easy to just automatically say 'yes' or automatically say 'no.' And while I like the aesthetics, I do like the idea of shrubberies to help along there, too.”

Benavides thought steel would likely have a longer expectancy, and Theriault if this was the case, or if they would rust. She said they will all weather, but reiterated she has never had to replace a guardrail due to wear. Theriault said the older cable guardrails, which she called subpar, are the only ones she can think of which have been replaced, other than if they are hit by a car.

“We are replacing the substandard ones, is all you are doing,” Theriault said.

Dunn noted staff of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation have replaced “many a steel rail,” and examples were in the village and the guardrails on the bypass. He believes there is a 30-year life expectancy, and either type works.

Dunn said if the timber guardrails were approved, it would not require supplemental appropriation, as these funds exist within the budget.

Benavides asked when the decision needed to be made, and Dunn said, “tonight’s the night.” Theriault said with an August completion date, fine details are happening now, and this is part of it.

The motion failed to pass 1-2, with Grenier and Eddy voting against.

Theriault said they are on track for August occupancy, and they are past the 50% expenditure point. Bonnette, Page & Stone staff will now work on a projected final cost, and this will be presented to the selectboard when completed.

Theriault said the garage side is preparing for the concrete pour, and currently under pressure testing until they pour. The rebar installation will take place over the next two weeks, and the tentative date for the first of two pours is Wednesday, May 20.

Siding has been completed and window installation is currently taking place, and masonry was done until the completion of the garage floor. Metal framing is anticipated to be finished next week, followed by the ceiling caps and the installation of the dry wall on the administrative side fire wall. Rough plumbing and electrical work are underway, and duct work is continuing. The pole barn started last week, as well.

“Moving along quick, and we have our weekly meetings which are great, and they are keeping us in the loop,” Theriault said. “We’ve been very happy with BPS and their subcontractors.”