When any town, in the judgment of the Department of Transportation, unreasonably fails to either raise, appropriate or pay the cost of snow removal, or without cause fails to keep open any state or state aid highway as required in section 1001 or 1003, the department shall cause the highway to be kept open at the expense of the State. The Treasurer of State may withhold a sufficient amount from any funds due or to become due the town, to cover the payment in whole of the expense of the snow removal, and the amount collected shall be added to the State Highway Maintenance Account.   [PL 1981, c. 492, Pt. C, §17 (RPR).]