Dublin saved more than $60,000 by crushing reclaimed stone into gravel for town roads rather than purchasing it.

Town Road Agent Roger Trempe said during the Select Board meeting Monday that the Highway Department crushed reclaimed stone and blacktop from other road projects that will be spread on town roads. Almost half of Dublin’s 42 miles of roads are dirt.

“We crushed it into 6,100 cubic yards of gravel, which had we purchased it, would have cost $109,800,” Trempe said. “The crushing cost $47,880, including use of the hammer, but it’s a savings of $61,920.” Trempe added that it will still be necessary for the town to purchase additional gravel in the future. 

The town has also spent $3,000 less on road salt for the winter, paying $8,000, down from $11,000 last year.

“Road crews are being more thoughtful in how they spread it, and the weather is changing,” Trempe said.

In other news, Trempe said that on Thursday, an arborist will visit Dublin to assess damage done to trees in town by the emerald ash borer and get an estimate to deal with the problem. The insect lays its eggs in ash trees, and their feeding has destroyed ash trees in over 30 states. 

“They topped an ash tree at the Baha’i inn last year to deal with it, but by the fall it was toast,” said Select Board Chair Chris Raymond about destruction by the insect in town. 

“We’d like to do something to keep ash trees from falling on roads and cars,” said Trempe. 

In another matter, the board expressed concern over the proliferation of commercial signs on utility poles on town.

“We’re not talking about signs for lost dogs,” said board member Susan Peters.

Raymond said the matter will be referred to the code enforcement officer.

“The first thing to do is to call the people and ask them to get their signs,” he said.