Purchasing committee recommends contracts for Reservoir Ave. wall, fuel, police rifles and asset inventory

The town purchasing committee voted to recommend that the council approve four contract actions brought forward at the committee meeting.

The committee approved awarding a retaining-wall repair contract for 208 Reservoir Avenue to WH Peppas General Contracting. Staff said WH Peppas was the lowest qualified bidder at $69,007.46 and, after follow-up with the public works director, the bidder offered a lower price (discussion referenced $56,002.10); the motion recorded an award amount of $56,210. Committee member Speaker 7 moved the award; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The repair scope includes stone chinking and replacement, filling and compaction, stump grinding at the top of the wall, and replacement of a deteriorated handrail to protect people from falling on a wall described as about 10–12 feet high. Staff emphasized the work follows structural‑engineer recommendations to address voids and erosion and to extend the wall’s service life.

The committee also recommended that the council waive competitive bidding to piggyback the City of Providence fuel contract and award diesel fuel and heating-oil purchases to Peterson Oil Services under that contract, with authorization not to exceed $400,000. Staff said last year’s fuel spending was about $300,000 and that the $400,000 figure provides a usage‑dependent ceiling; purchases were described as charged to the DPW/general fund. Speaker 7 moved the recommendation; the motion was seconded and approved.

On equipment procurement, staff presented a request to waive bidding for police rifles to be acquired using a Department of Justice JAG grant. A police representative (Speaker 2) explained the department will move away from officers using personally owned rifles toward department‑owned rifles to standardize training and reduce liability; the procurement would use a cooperative (MAS/MPA) contract through Atlantic Tactical. The committee recorded the procurement amount as $36,540; members asked about ammunition and training schedules and staff said the new rifles will be used in the next recertification training. The committee approved recommending the award.

Finally, the finance/administration representative (Speaker 6) briefed the committee on audit recommendations that a comprehensive physical asset inventory be conducted for the town, school district, water and sewer enterprises. Staff recommended hiring Clifton, Larson & Allen under a state MPA statement of work to conduct the inventory and related advisory services, with a not‑to‑exceed amount of $50,000. Staff estimated the cost allocation would be roughly 60% to schools, about 20% to the town, 10% to the water commission and 5% to the sewer fund, and said the town’s share could be roughly $10,000–$15,000; staff asked that contract approval be subject to solicitor review. Speaker 7 moved the recommendation with that solicitor‑review proviso; the motion was seconded and approved.

The committee asked for public comment; none was reported on site or online. The committee then moved and seconded to adjourn and approved the motion. The committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the council for final action.

Votes at a glance: the committee approved recommending the award of the Reservoir Avenue wall repair to WH Peppas (award amount discussed in the record as $69,007.46 originally, lowered in discussion to $56,002.10; motion recorded $56,210); recommended piggybacking the City of Providence fuel contract with Peterson Oil Services not to exceed $400,000; recommended awarding police rifles via Atlantic Tactical for $36,540 using a DOJ JAG grant; and recommended awarding accounting/advisory and asset‑inventory services to Clifton, Larson & Allen not to exceed $50,000 (approval subject to solicitor review).