Strafford County waives bid, approves purchase of kitchen steamer after equipment failure

Strafford County commissioners voted Feb. 14 to waive competitive bidding and approve the purchase of a replacement kitchen steamer after the existing unit began smoking and was judged an electrical hazard.

County staff reported the 25-year-old steamer "started smoking" during an inspection and that a technician warned staff they could have been electrocuted, prompting removal from service. The county will buy a Cleveland-brand steamer from vendor Singer Kittredge for a price the presenter said is "just under $22,000." The purchase will be funded by reallocating part of an existing $72,000 capital allotment for kitchen equipment.

The replacement was presented to the board as urgent. A staff member described the old unit's condition: "The electrical cavity was leaking significant amount of water, and there was damage to the electrical components." The same staff member said repair was deemed not worth pursuing because the unit is old and the electrical risk made it unsafe.

Commissioners discussed equipment needs and filtration systems; one commissioner recommended adding a water filtration system when installing the new steamer. Warranty terms stated in the meeting included one year for parts and labor, a five‑year prorated parts warranty on boilers and steam generators, and a three‑year convection steamer door warranty.

A motion to waive the bidding requirement and award the purchase was moved and seconded and approved by the board during roll call. The presenter said the vendor indicated a delivery lead time of three weeks.

The commission directed staff to complete contract paperwork and arrange payment from the capital equipment budget. No amendments to that decision were recorded at the meeting.