HERMON – The snowplow contractor again became the topic of discussion at Thursday’s Town Council meeting, after further complaints from residents about damaged mailboxes and unplowed roads.

The council authorized Town Manager Clint Deschene to send a letter to snowplow contractor Louis “Buzzy” LaChance detailing the complaints and the cost to the town for plowing several roads that were reportedly missed in recent storms.

The service has improved since December, when LaChance was mailed a notification letter about continual problems, Deschene said. Plow truck drivers, however, are using excessive amounts of town-supplied sand and salt on the roads, he said.

“The amount of salt that we’re using is scary,” Deschene said.

In other business Thursday, the council scheduled a special town meeting for Thursday, Feb. 3 to discuss an estimated $20,000 purchase of a parcel of land between the middle school and high school.

“It’s a very good deal. It gives a lot of long-term flexibility to the town,” Deschene said.

Acquiring the estimated 4-acre parcel would allow the town to create a trail system connecting the two schools, as well as room for needed sports fields.

The school department considered purchasing the land several years ago for $6,700, but the deal fell through, Councilor Anthony Reynolds said Thursday.

“We dropped the ball,” he said. “It’s a valuable piece of property to the schools.”

Also at Thursday’s meeting, the council:

. Approved junkyard permits for Butler’s Garage and H.E. Cliff Fuel.

. Transferred approximately $120,000 from capital reserves to cover the town’s share of construction costs on Billings Road.

. Transferred $4,500 from the economic development reserve fund to buy wireless Internet equipment.

. Transferred approximately $17,000 from the sewer maintenance reserve fund for costs related to the Odlin Road pump station.

The council will next meet on Thursday, Jan. 20 to discuss the recently completed town audit and capital improvement projects.