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No Bids Returned for Forest Avenue Housing Project; Select Board Urges Further Review of RFP
Summary
The Yarmouth Select Board was told no bids were submitted on the Housing Authority's Forest Avenue project. Staff and board members flagged the RFP for omitting details about potential water-supply and stormwater impacts and discussed inviting the Housing Authority to an early July meeting to revisit site design and alternatives.
No bids were received on the Yarmouth Housing Authority's Forest Avenue redevelopment, town staff told the Select Board on May 13.
The lack of responses prompted Select Board members and staff to raise concerns that the authority's request for proposals did not explicitly call out potential impacts to the public water supply (including nitrogen and "emerging contaminants") or the need for robust stormwater and groundwater management at the high-groundwater site. "It gives us an additional opportunity," Staff member Bob said, describing outreach options and recommending more communication with the Housing Authority before re-advertising the site.
Why it matters: Board members said the Forest Avenue property presents environmental and infrastructure challenges that could complicate development if they are not addressed in procurement documents. Select Board members suggested inviting the Housing Authority to meet with the board before the authority reissues the project to discuss site selection, possible property exchanges and the technical issues the town expects the developer to resolve.
At the meeting Town staff summarized the next steps: host additional conversations with the Housing Authority, examine the RFP language for missing technical requirements, and consider scheduling a dedicated Select Board discussion in early July. "I would recommend that we just do it all in open session," Staff member Bob said, urging transparency and an early meeting with the authority.
No formal board vote was recorded on altering the project or directing staff to take legal steps. Board members did discuss bringing the Housing Authority to a Select Board meeting in July (board members mentioned July 8 as a possible date) to discuss alternatives and potential property exchanges.
The Select Board also briefly discussed whether an executive session would be appropriate to develop negotiation strategy; some members said strategy conversations could be held in executive session later if needed but initially favored open discussion to notify the Housing Authority and begin coordination.
