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Smithfield council approves RFPs for Gallagher Middle School elevator replacement, snow plowing and boiler cleaning
Summary
The council authorized requests for proposals to replace the nonfunctional elevator at Gallagher Middle School, to contract snow-plowing for six school sites (RFP #26323), and to advertise boiler-cleaning services, while asking the school department for prior-repair costs and timelines.
The Smithfield Town Council on April 7 authorized multiple requests for proposals aimed at school facilities, including a full replacement of the nonfunctional elevator at Gallagher Middle School.
Angelo Maccouchie of Smithfield Public Schools told the council the elevator has had intermittent repairs over several years and finally failed early in the school year. He said the planned work would replace all components while keeping the existing shaft and car dimensions; the work "would take at least 4 months" and the department hopes to complete the work over the summer to limit disruption. The council was told the capital line currently lists $125,000 for the project, and Maccouchie said he will provide a five-year breakdown of repair spending and more precise cost estimates when available.
Councilors pressed school officials on why the elevator remained in service while repairs were patched in, how much had been spent on temporary fixes, and whether the district had received vendor guidance on long-term options. Maccouchie said vendors had performed stopgap repairs costing thousands at a time and that replacement-level work would be significantly more expensive. "We drew the line and said, ‘Let's put a plan in place...and then let's bring it forward as a capital expense,'" he said.
Separately the council voted to advertise RFP #26323 to procure snow-plowing services for six school buildings, with a three-year option. Members discussed whether the town Department of Public Works could perform the work to reduce duplication and asked the administration to supply five years of plowing cost records. The school department confirmed it typically budgets about $25,000 per year for snow removal but said the figure has varied widely.
The council also authorized advertising an RFP for annual boiler- and hot-water-tank cleaning at six school locations and discussed exploring a joint contract with town maintenance to gain economies of scale.
All three motions (elevator RFP, snow-plow RFP #26323, and boiler-cleaning RFP) were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The council requested the school department deliver historical repair costs, vendor names, and a clearer timeline for the elevator work before the next meeting.
