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Select Board awards transfer-station plowing contract to Absolut Services amid higher costs
Summary
Carrabassett Valley’s Select Board unanimously approved a two-year transfer-station plowing contract with Absolut Services on Sept. 9, citing higher materials, insurance and labor costs despite a lower bid from Gilley’s Trucking.
The Carrabassett Valley Select Board voted unanimously Sept. 9 to award the town’s two-year transfer-station winter plowing contract to Absolut Services.
The board unsealed two bids: the record shows Absolut Services and a lower bid from Gilley’s Trucking LLC. Absolut owner Andy Brann said the increase over last year was driven by “salt, a 20% insurance increase and labor,” and Town Manager Garrett Corbin reminded the board that it was not obligated to accept the lowest dollar bid if other factors favored a different vendor.
Karen Campbell moved to accept Absolut’s bid; Jay Reynolds seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Board membership present for the vote included Chair Bob Luce, Karen Campbell, Lloyd Cuttler and Jay Reynolds; one board member was absent.
The unsealed bid listing in the meeting record contains inconsistent figures: the unsealed list shows Absolut at $34,100 for both years and Gilley’s at $32,000 ($16,000 per winter), while the motion recorded in the minutes references Absolut at $34,500. The board did not articulate a further accounting of that numerical discrepancy at the meeting; the minutes list the award outcome as approved.
Next steps: the town will finalize the contract documents with the chosen vendor and proceed with winter service under the awarded term. Town staff did not specify start dates for work under the contract at the meeting.
