Council awards bids for fuel, winter sand and gravel; prices rise slightly from last year

The Foster Town Council awarded municipal bids for fuel, winter sand and gravel during its Oct. 9 meeting, accepting the public works director’s recommendations and approving the low bidders.

Dennis Burke Inc. was awarded the fuel contract; the bid quoted gasoline at $0.265 per gallon over cost and diesel at $0.195 per gallon over cost. The council recorded that those figures represent an increase of 2.5 cents per gallon for gasoline and five cents per gallon for diesel compared with last year’s award.

For winter sand, the council accepted DeFazio Materials LLC at $21.90 per ton delivered (or $18.90 per ton picked up), the lowest responsive bid among three respondents. For gravel, the council awarded JR Venagro Corporation at $17.67 per ton delivered and $10.50 per ton picked up, also the lowest bid received.

Motions to accept the DPW director’s recommendations passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Councilors said the town had few options with the bids received and praised the DPW director for soliciting competitive responses.

The new contract prices will be used by DPW for the coming season; councilors did not attach conditions or additional approvals to the awards.