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Selectmen approve roughly $150,900 in change orders for athletic complex, OK ARPA IT upgrade and animal-shelter contract
Summary
At a regular Selectmen meeting the board approved two Ranger Construction change orders totaling about $150,888 from the ballfield reserve to repair electrical wiring and rebuild an undersized wet pond, approved a $19,822.41 ARPA IT upgrade and renewed a contract with Somerset Humane Society for 2025.
The Selectmen approved two construction change orders for the town athletic complex and authorized several routine spending items, including an IT upgrade funded with ARPA dollars and a one-year animal shelter contract.
The board voted to approve Ranger Construction change order #3, not to exceed $53,949, to correct existing electrical wiring and install conduit and separate switching for three fields and scoreboards. Unidentified Speaker 5, who explained the technical needs, said the work is necessary to bring wiring up to code and allow each field and scoreboard to be controlled from the concession stand: “So at the concession stand you can turn on field 1, you can turn on field 2, you can turn on field 3,” the speaker said.
The board also approved Ranger Construction change order #6, not to exceed $96,938.50, to rebuild an existing wet pond and drainage that the public-works presentation described as undersized. The vote on change order #6 carried with three members voting yes and one abstention.
Board members repeatedly pressed on funding sources. Town staff reported a ballfield-compound reserve balance previously shown as $766,160.10 and estimated about $470,450 remaining after previously approved pending expenditures; the staff clarification noted that the latter figure reflects pending commitments and should be treated as approximate. Members stressed the importance of a master plan to prioritize projects. Unidentified Speaker 5 said the fields “have live wires in the ground that are just buried,” arguing the electrical work is both a safety and scheduling priority.
Other items passed without extended debate. The board approved an expenditure not to exceed $19,822.41 from ARPA funds for an IT infrastructure upgrade and renewed the animal-shelter contract with Somerset Humane Society for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025; board members confirmed the contract rates are unchanged from last year.
Votes at a glance • Change order #3 (Ranger Construction) — up to $53,949; funding: rec department reserve (ball field compound); outcome: approved. • Change order #6 (Ranger Construction) — up to $96,938.50; funding: rec department reserve (ball field compound); outcome: approved (3 yes, 1 abstain). • ARPA IT upgrade — up to $19,822.41 from ARPA funds; outcome: approved. • Animal shelter contract — Somerset Humane Society, Jan.–Dec. 2025; outcome: approved.
The board’s discussion repeatedly returned to scheduling and sequencing: several members said completing underground drainage and electrical work while heavy equipment is on site avoids re‑digging and losing another playing season. Staff said a master plan is expected in early January to help sequence and secure matching grants.
The Selectmen also took routine actions including appointing a slate of registrars and deputy registrars (terms to Jan. 1, 2027). The meeting concluded with ongoing discussion about downtown TIF spending and oversight; board members said they will revisit TIF rubrics and oversight procedures at a future meeting.
