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Council approves Haynes de Boer to design next Franklin Farm bond project
Summary
The town council unanimously approved resolution 25‑18 authorizing the mayor to contract Haynes de Boer for architecture work on the Franklin Farm bond project after the building committee recommended the firm for continuity and local presence.
The Cumberland Town Council on March 19 approved Resolution 25‑18 authorizing Mayor Geoffrey J. Mutter to engage Haynes de Boer for architectural services related to Franklin Farm work funded by the town bond, passing the measure 7–0.
Members of the Franklin Farm building committee appeared to explain the recommendation. A committee representative told the council Haynes de Boer was one of four firms that bid, and the committee favored the firm because of continuity, local presence and prior work that reduced the need for duplicate research. The committee noted the firm’s principal, Corey DeBoer, had an ongoing relationship with the project and with the Rhode Island Historical Preservation staff, which the committee said added confidence for historic‑property work.
The committee representative also said the Haynes de Boer fee schedule was significantly lower than other bidders, in part because the firm is local and would incur less travel expense. In answer to council questions, the representative said other firms would need to do more project catch‑up work, which could increase costs.
Councilor Bolio moved approval; Councilor Schorff seconded. The resolution passed 7–0.
The resolution authorizes the mayor to finalize the architecture contract and directs the administration to proceed with project tasks defined under the Franklin Farm bond appropriation. The building committee indicated it will continue to coordinate with the selected architect and with the Rhode Island Historic Preservation staff as design work proceeds.
