Bourne accepts sole bid from Weston & Sampson for plant O&M; staff reports progress on plant restart

The Bourne Board of Sewer Commissioners voted 5-0 May 26 to accept a single proposal from Weston & Sampson to provide operation and maintenance services for the wastewater plant and authorized the town administrator to begin contract negotiations.

The RFP produced one responsive proposal. Staff explained the revised scope expanded routine coverage (to roughly 29 hours per week, including brief weekend hours) and added preventive maintenance and greater alarm/response accountability. That expanded scope — combined with weekend coverage and additional preventive maintenance — produced a proposed annual cost of $238,500, up from the prior contract amount of about $91,200. Staff said the board budgeted approximately $140,000 and that a budget adjustment in October is likely to cover the difference; commissioners pointed to the town's reserve fund as a mitigation option in the near term.

Separately, staff provided an update on the Buzzards Bay/Fuzzards Bay treatment plant restart effort: Kubota conducted a trial run using clean water, identified a defective pump and some level-sensor programming items, and reported the membranes remain in good condition. Kubota will provide a written report and written reseeding/restart instructions that the town will keep in its operating manual; staff expects the plant can be reseeded and returned to service within a week or two if the remaining punch-list items are completed.

Commissioners approved the Weston & Sampson proposal with a 5-0 vote and authorized the town administrator to finalize contract terms.