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Select Board clears a slate of capital bids and contracts, including culvert, cemetery work, clerk-of-works and a police vehicle lease
Summary
Skowhegan’s Select Board approved several procurement actions on Sept. 23: a low bid for an Oak Pond Road culvert replacement, cemetery reconstruction and stone-cleaning funds, acceptance of a clerk-of-works proposal for the Community Center Complex, and authorization to lease a 2026 police interceptor. Members asked for careful accounting on larger projects.
The Select Board approved a series of capital and procurement items at its Sept. 23 meeting.
Culvert replacement: The board accepted the low bid from Ranger Construction for the Oak Pond Road culvert replacement. The packet contains a Ranger Construction figure of $138,435.50 for the low bid (one later reference in the discussion lists $138,004.35). Board members said the bid includes engineering work already completed and that town staff will supply culvert materials to reduce cost; the motion to award the bid carried 5–0.
Cemetery reconstruction and repairs: The board accepted the only bid for South Side Cemetery reconstruction from Elias Monuments at $26,400. Funding will come from $20,000 in the cemetery repairs and maintenance line and $6,400 from the cemetery maintenance capital reserve. The board also approved up to $6,000 from the cemetery stone repair and cleaning designation to support volunteer cleaning and repairs; members noted a DAR volunteer group has already cleaned dozens of stones.
Clerk of the Works for Community Center Complex Phase 2, Part 2: Two proposals were considered. Plymouth Engineering offered a 16-week clerk-of-the-works engagement for $80,000, with an optional 8-week extension at $40,000 (total $120,000 if extended). Wentworth Partners proposed a fee equal to 10% of construction costs; given an estimated $1.7–2.0 million construction figure for this portion, Wentworth’s fee would likely be higher. On cost grounds and with staff oversight commitments, the board voted 5–0 to accept Plymouth Engineering as clerk of the works and asked staff to monitor change orders and accounting closely.
Police vehicle lease: The board approved Chief Bucknam’s request to procure a 2026 Ford Interceptor from Hyde Ford through the town’s lease program. The quoted vehicle cost was $52,435 with an annual payment of $18,887.33; staff noted the lease structure allows the vehicle to be purchased after year three for $1. The transcript records the motion outcome but includes an unclear vote-line transcription for this item; no further challenge to proceeding was raised.
Other approvals: The board approved several routine items, including an application for a Main Street special event at Coburn Park (Sept. 27), renewal of an on-premises alcohol license for New Garden at 6 Main Street, and treasurer’s warrants (one item contingent on invoice validation).
Board members flagged the need for clear accounting on multi-phase projects and for staff to document change orders and remaining balances before future approvals.
