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Uxbridge School Committee forwards warrant article to extend custodial contract for one year
Summary
The committee voted to send draft warrant language to the town clerk for a Dec. 1 special Town meeting that would authorize a one-year extension of the custodial contract with ACP Pritchard Industries; the extension was budgeted and would be followed by a public bidding process for the next year.
UXBRIDGE, Mass. — The Uxbridge School Committee voted Oct. 20 to forward a warrant article to the Town’s special meeting that would authorize a one-year extension of its custodial services contract with ACP Pritchard Industries.
David Youngberg, who introduced the item during the committee’s Oct. 20 meeting, said the district’s master service agreement ran from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025, and included optional fourth- and fifth-year extensions. Youngberg said the automatic extension was not executed when the contract expired June 30 and that the only way to authorize a fourth-year extension now was via a warrant article for the special Town meeting scheduled for Dec. 1; he added the deadline to submit warrant language was the next day.
“ We have had good service,” Youngberg said, adding that building principals and the director of facilities had provided “nothing but positive feedback” about the contractor’s work and staff. He said he had circulated draft warrant language to the town manager, who was sending it to town counsel for vetting.
Under the plan Youngberg outlined, the warrant article would authorize only a fourth year; the committee does not intend to exercise a fifth-year option. Youngberg said the district budgeted for the fourth year and that the cost reflected a roughly 5% increase that he described as competitive within the industry. After the one-year extension, the district would go out to bid for custodial services.
Chair Pizzulo and other committee members asked whether the committee’s formal recommendation needed to be submitted before the warrant deadline. Committee members agreed the committee did not have to submit a recommendation the same day and that it would be appropriate to wait for town counsel’s confirmation on the language before issuing a recommendation.
Youngberg moved to approve the proposed warrant article draft as presented; the motion was seconded and approved in a roll-call vote recorded as Jessica (yes), Matt (yes), Carrie (yes) and Chris (yes). Youngberg said he would file the approved draft with the town clerk for inclusion on the Dec. 1 special Town meeting warrant.
The special Town meeting will decide whether to authorize the one-year extension. The School Committee adjourned after taking the vote.
