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Purchasing director reports $35M in purchase orders, property dispositions and project delays
Summary
Purchasing Director Cormier told the finance committee the city has processed about 1,762 purchase orders (roughly $35 million ordered), awarded several contracts including a James Street pump station and property dispositions to CBM Holdings, and warned staff to monitor contracts for fuel‑surcharge language amid recent price volatility.
Purchasing Director Cormier reported to the Gardner Finance Committee on March 10 that the purchasing office processed approximately 1,762 purchase orders in fiscal‑year 2026 through February with an ordered amount of about $35,000,000 and handled 52 contracts (33 of them new).
Cormier identified recent contract awards and procurements: a salt‑shed contract to Lara Shell Construction for about $98,500, a leachate‑system bid awarded to Fort Meadow Builder (~$225,000), and the James Street pump station bid awarded to Dane Kreece Builders Corp for just over $1,000,000 (contract pending execution). He also said six snow‑removal vendors were engaged to handle increased winter demand.
On real‑property actions, Cormier said two dispositions (53 School Street and 130 Elm Street) were awarded to CBM Holdings LLC (Molina Properties) for $200,000 and $450,000 respectively; he said both are now with legal counsel for closing.
Cormier described construction management issues on the Waterford Doran ramp and city hall entrance projects, saying he stepped into a conduit/management role amid questions about a project manager and potential conflict‑of‑interest issues and that front‑entrance work will require temporary step closures and window replacements that may affect adjacent parking and EV charging bays.
He also said the office is updating Munis purchase‑order workflows to preserve an audit trail, rolling out fillable surplus disposition and auction forms, and processing civil‑enforcement activity related to parking and snow removal appeals. On contract risk, Cormier urged monitoring for fuel‑surcharge and tariff clauses after recent international events. "We locked in on our gas and electricity rates for the city, early, so we're ahead of that," he said, and added the purchasing office will continue to watch vendor language to protect taxpayer dollars.
Committee members thanked Cormier and asked for project schedule updates and clarifications on outstanding vendor invoices and permit management.
