A small town in central Aroostook County has issued a breach of contract notice to its plowing contractor, whom it says has failed to properly clean roads after snow storms and used town-owned sand for personal purposes.
The Board of Selectmen in Perham, a town with a population of 371 due west of Caribou, issued the notice to Williams Excavation on Feb. 24. The company’s owner, Jason Williams, met with the selectmen a day prior to discuss their concerns, but resolution attempts were “met with resistance” from Williams, the notice says.
“These issues have been raised verbally since the commencement of contract term,” board chair Glenn Viola wrote. “Despite repeated discussions and the town’s willingness to work cooperatively toward resolution, the deficiencies outlined below remain unresolved.”
The town entered a single-season contract worth $125,000 with Williams Excavation in September 2025 for snow removal this winter.
The contract, publicly posted by the town Tuesday, requires the company to operate two full-size plow trucks and a pickup truck with a plow to maintain 23.5 miles of roads and around the town office.
In the notice, the selectmen accused Williams Excavation of operating only one truck during storms and not consistently plowing ahead of morning and afternoon commutes or in front of the town office.
The selectmen also alleged that the operator used town sand on his own private road after a storm, which members said constituted misuse of municipal property, and that at least one of the contractor’s plows is operating without a Maine registration.
Viola did not respond to a request seeking additional details Thursday.
Williams said in a Feb. 23 selectmen’s meeting that no board member had previously complained to him, according to meeting minutes.
The breach of contract notice gives Williams Excavation until March 9 to “correct the deficiencies.” If the company does not, the selectmen may terminate the contract, deduct and withhold unspecified costs incurred from obtaining alternate plowing services, recover incidental or consequential damages and recover against the performance bond — a surety issued to safeguard the fulfillment of a contract.
Williams did not respond to a request for comment.
