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Board hears $480,000 lowest bid for rec‑center addition; declines to place warrant article tonight
Summary
Cob Hill Construction was the low bidder at just under $480,000 for a proposed storage/office addition to the Bow Recreation Center. The board received public comment urging additional analysis and, after debate, took no motion to send a warrant article to voters at this meeting.
The select board heard bids and public comment on a proposed addition to the Bow Recreation Center at its Jan. 13 meeting.
Chris Andrew and Parks and Recreation Director Darcy Little presented the results of a competitive bid process: Cob Hill Construction of Concord submitted the low bid at "just under $480,000," with roughly $100,000 of that estimate attributable to site work and concrete. Andrew said the team would continue to meet with the low bidder to pursue potential value‑engineering items in the weeks before warrant deadlines.
Several board members and members of the public weighed in. Citizen and budget‑committee member Mike Mayo urged the board not to treat the project as a necessity, telling the board, "This is not a need," and argued for additional needs analysis and exploration of lower‑cost alternatives (for example, off‑site storage, partitions to create private space at the community center, or contracted monthly transport). Parks Director Darcy Little countered that, if approved from the recreation revolving fund and capital reserve as proposed, the addition would not carry a tax impact and would free on‑site program space and provide private office space needed for daily operations.
Board members differed on whether to place the question before voters. Several members said they supported bringing the question to the town if more due diligence were completed; one member stated they would vote against placing it on the warrant. Ultimately the board did not make a motion at the meeting to place a warrant article for the addition on the March town meeting ballot; members said more information and the opportunity for further review are needed before committing to a voter question.
Staff indicated the town could continue monthly meetings with the low bidder to seek modest cost reductions but emphasized that bidders had already priced municipal‑project requirements that can raise costs. The board and staff agreed to continue refining costs and to return with additional information before any motion to put the question to voters.
