The Town of Wayne Select Board voted Sept. 2 to accept a sealed bid from Allstates Construction to repave Raintree Road, Strickland Ferry Road and Bessie Road and authorized award of a contract subject to legal review.

The vote follows a formal bid process in which the town sent a request for proposals to nine paving firms and received four sealed bids. Town staff and the roads committee reviewed the submissions for compliance with the RFP; one bidder omitted the performance bond and was dropped from consideration. The board accepted Allstates' proposal after members said the price and schedule were acceptable.

Shannon, the town manager, told the board she had circulated the contract and that the town's purchasing policy requires form review by legal before a contract is awarded. The contract must also clear a conflict-of-interest check: Shannon said the first law firm the town contacted had a conflict and the town is arranging alternate legal review before formal award.

Allstates' representative, Steve, told the board the company had capacity this fall and that availability likely lowered its price: "We have availability...and quite frankly, the schedule of the work works out well for us." He described the contractor's approach to the project (mechanical reclamation of roadway material followed by paving), said reclaiming all three roads would take an estimated two days and paving slightly longer, and said the company was comfortable with a single final payment rather than progress payments.

Board members discussed timing and seasonal limits for asphalt work and noted Maine DOT practice and local weather can constrain a paving season; the contractor said warm-mix additives and a flexible schedule can extend workable conditions later into autumn.

Motion and vote: A motion to accept Allstates Construction's paving proposal for $196,349.13 for the three roads carried unanimously (4-0). The board also instructed the town manager, subject to legal review of contract form, to enter the contract when legal clearance is obtained. The board recorded no further conditions on award.

The contract award is contingent on completion of the legal review and any conflict waivers required by the town's outside counsel or the selected counsel. The board discussed, and the contractor confirmed, that any additional gravel or base material the town requests would be handled as a change order with associated costs disclosed before work proceeds.

The board signaled interest in pursuing additional paving packages in the fall or next spring and asked the roads committee to prepare further bid packages if the town's cash-flow and reserves allow it.

The town manager will return with the contract after legal review and any necessary waivers have been obtained; no definitive start date was set beyond the contractor's estimate that work could be completed by late October weather permitting.