Committee forwards ordinance to let safety director bid flood-removal contract for water pollution control center

The Amherst Finance Committee voted unanimously Oct. 27 to forward Ordinance 25-34 to the full council with an emergency designation. The ordinance would authorize the safety service director to solicit bids and award a contract for removal of solids from the town's water pollution control center for the years 2026 and 2027.

The mayor, who introduced the measure, said the town does not contract for this service every single year but routinely seeks bids because only a limited number of vendors are available to remove the solid material left over after wastewater treatment. "We do not necessarily every year, but almost every year. It's a process. We go out for bids, and there's usually not a lot of people that can do this," the mayor said.

A motion to take Ordinance 25-34 to the floor of council with the emergency designation was made and seconded; the committee approved the motion by voice vote, 6-0. No amendments or alternate procurement approaches were offered during committee discussion.

The ordinance will move to the full council for final action and, if approved, would enable the safety service director to begin a bid process and award a contract for the specified years.