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Issue · Goffstown, NH

Class 6 Road Maintenance and Liability

Residents on unmaintained Class 6 roads face safety and emergency access risks while the town weighs high upgrade costs against taxpayer equity.

Overview

Class 6 road maintenance and liability on Moose Club Park Road emerged from resident safety complaints and has progressed through two select-board meetings that established a legal-consultation step followed by approval of a resident-funded maintenance waiver. The board has consistently rejected town-funded upgrades while offering a liability-waiver pathway for private work.

Background

Residents on Moose Club Park Road raised safety and access concerns during the April 27, 2026 select-board meeting because of the poor condition of the unmaintained Class 6 public portion and adjoining private segments. The board acknowledged emergency-response and service-delivery problems but noted that bringing the road to full town standards would be cost-prohibitive. It therefore voted to consult the town attorney on two legal avenues: a betterment assessment under RSA 231-59A and the possibility of allowing residents to perform maintenance themselves in exchange for a recorded liability waiver.

At the June 8, 2026 meeting residents returned with a formal request for road-status upgrades or other improvements. The board reviewed four options, including a $1.2 million petition upgrade for eight houses and a DPW estimate of approximately $150,000 to meet town standards on the Class 6 section. After discussion the board denied any change in road status but approved a motion permitting residents to maintain or pave the Class 6 portion at their own expense in return for a recorded municipal liability waiver.

The sequence of events shows a direct causal link: the April consultation motion produced the legal framework that the June meeting then applied to the residents' request. No further board action on the Class 6 maintenance policy itself has occurred.

How it unfolded
Residents presented safety and access concerns on the unmaintained Class 6 and private portions of Moose Club Park Road; board voted to consult town attorney on betterment assessment under RSA 231-59A and on allowing resident maintenance in exchange for a recorded liability waiver. Motion passed (Ayes have it).
2026-04-27Select Board
Residents requested options for Class 6 improvements; board reviewed four options including $1.2 million petition upgrade and $150,000 DPW estimate, denied road-status upgrade, and approved resident maintenance or paving at own expense in exchange for recorded liability waiver.
2026-06-08Select Board
Arguments in favor
Residents face impeded emergency medical access and unreliable mail/trash service due to mud, ice, and potholes on the Class 6 section.
select-board 2026-04-27
For
A recorded liability waiver would allow residents to perform needed maintenance or paving at their own expense without imposing costs on the town.
select-board 2026-06-08
For
The DPW estimate of approximately $150,000 for the Class 6 section is far lower than the $1.2 million full-upgrade figure, making limited private work feasible.
select-board 2026-06-08
For
Arguments against
Full town-standard upgrades remain cost-prohibitive for a road segment serving only eight houses.
select-board 2026-04-27
Against
Changing the road's formal status would require a petition process whose expense the town is unwilling to assume.
select-board 2026-06-08
Against
The board must first obtain clear legal guidance on liability before authorizing any private maintenance arrangement.
select-board 2026-04-27
Against
Key voices
“detailed safety concerns regarding the unmaintained Class 6 public road including mud, ice, potholes, and difficulty for emergency vehicles and services like mail and trash delivery”
Resident representing Moose Club Park Road residentsselect-board 2026-04-27
“provided a personal account of how poor road conditions impacted emergency medical response to her home and difficulties for fire department trucks during a carbon monoxide incident”
Resident of Moose Club Roadselect-board 2026-04-27
“noted that the cost of upgrading the entire stretch is too high for the residents and inquired about the cost for the public portion and options like the emergency lane designation”
Resident speaking on Moose Club Road improvementsselect-board 2026-06-08
What's next

DPW to bring a list of recommended standards that would be waived for future consideration.

class 6 roadmoose clubmaintenanceliability