Public Works Foreman: Preston Brickel

Phone: (207) 576-9121     Email: buckfieldpw@gmail.com

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Public Works Garage: (207) 336-2526

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The Public Works Department helps keep the Town of Buckfield moving every day. The crew has many responsibilities ranging from clearing our roads of ice and snow in the winter, providing grounds maintenance at all Town owned facilities year round, maintaining our cemeteries and our infrastructure by conducting road maintenance such as culvert replacements, ditching, and patching pot holes. 

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The Road Commissioner works with the Road Committee to identify the most problematic roads in need of repair each year and compile the specifications needed to send out to bid for paving projects within the Town's approved paving budget. The Road Commissioner also monitors contractors progress and performance to ensure the services provided meet the requirements of the Town's paving contracts.

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Culvert Placement Policy

Local Roads - Application for Driveway/Entrance Permit

State Roads - Driveway/Entrance Permit Application

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Mailbox Placement

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Mailbox Installations

For convenience and practicality, mailbox installations have been allowed within the right-of-way of Maine’s roads; however it is important to recognize that such installations have two very important conditions:

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The mailbox is installed entirely at the owner’s risk.  In other words, if the mailbox incurs damage during any sort of highway operations or maintenance, the property owner is not entitled to replacement or compensation.  In fact, if the mailbox was not installed in accordance with the applicable standards as stated above, the owner may even be held liable for injuries or damages that may have been incurred as a result, and;

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The mailbox must be installed in accordance with applicable standards to ensure that mail can be delivered and that the mailbox does not create an obstacle or safety hazard to those that use or maintain the highway.

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Damage to Mailboxes

This is a common problem and a source of much confusion. Each street has a public right of way (ROW); this ROW may extend 6 to 10 feet or more beyond the paved surface. In most cases people do not know this exists or they simply ignore the fact and plant or place objects in the ROW.

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Generally speaking, the Town is not responsible for any type of damage to any item including mailboxes located in this area. Residents should review their property records and become familiar with actual boundaries. Mailboxes should be placed as far back from the road as practical, set at a height of 42 in. and equipped with reflectors on all sides. It is also prudent to check posts for rot or deterioration, particularly at the base to insure they will not break under the weight of snow.

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Our plow drivers are warned to take all precautions to avoid striking mailboxes with the wing of the plow; however, the Town plows over 44 miles of roads through significant storm conditions and, occasionally, some damage is likely to happen. In the event your mailbox is damaged by a Town plow we ask you to make any needed repairs.

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The Town will not replace or reimburse for regular or custom made mailboxes, ornate posts or granite posts, etc., or existing mailboxes with rotted posts or in obvious poor existing condition. State of Maine law views mailboxes as an encroachment in the public way put there at the Owner's risk and municipalities are not legally liable for any damage or repairs to mailboxes due to plowing operations.

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Mailbox Policy for the Town of Buckfield

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