Oakham Select Board Eyes Special Town Meeting for Road Acceptances in February

OAKHAM -- January 5, 2026, Oakham Select Board begins 2026 with road salt dispute, Zoom security concerns, and special town meeting plans. At the January 5 meeting, the board unanimously approved three financial warrants, WR26-14, PR26-13, and WTH26-13, before hearing a series of updates spanning multiple departments. The Highway Superintendent reported that a Chapter 90-funded Spencer Road guardrail replacement totaling $4,940 has been approved by MassDOT and will be installed in early spring, and briefed the board on a Tango Tango push-to-talk communications system that would equip his department with three handheld devices for roughly $900, compared to an estimated $25,000 for conventional radios. In extended public comment, resident Ken warned that the town's shift to straight road salt, with approximately 500 tons already used against a full-season average of 600 to 800, is contaminating private wells, stating "it's not if, it's when." The board directed a member to contact the Attorney General's office for guidance on whether Zoom participants can be denied access after a Zoom bombing disrupted the prior meeting, and agreed to schedule a special town meeting for road acceptance articles, targeting February.