Gardner issues RFPs for School Street and Helen Mae Sauter sites; salt shed and plow contracts also advertised

Mayor (name not specified) said the city has issued requests for proposals for two vacant school properties — School Street School and Helen Mae Sauter School — with proposals due in early October, and that a salt shed construction bid will close on Sept. 3. The mayor said the School Street School parcel for sale excludes the "big chair" and that the sale includes the building and adjacent parking area only. She described the sales process as required by state law, with an appointed review panel of three to five people grading proposals based on proposed use before price.

Nut graf: The RFP approach is intended to give the city a chance to preserve and repurpose vacant school buildings where feasible, while ensuring transparency in disposition under state law.

The mayor said the city previously planned demolition of the School Street School but received interest from about 20 developers, prompting one more attempt to offer the property for sale under an RFP rather than automatic demolition. The mayor described how respondents must detail intended uses and plans; a review panel will evaluate proposals and make a recommendation to the mayor’s office, after which price proposals are considered. All documents and grading sheets will be public record, she said. The salt shed work is to construct a roof over an existing concrete block structure on Mancur Drive; the snow‑plowing contractor RFP seeks firms to plow city parking lots (the Department of Public Works plows streets).

Ending: Interested vendors were directed to the city’s procurement postings for submission details and deadlines.