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Winthrop approves library drainage work and backs exterior book‑drop funding
Summary
Council authorized moving forward on drainage mitigation at the Winthrop Public Library after reviewing a $22,500 bid; it also approved up to $7,500 as the town's share for a permanent exterior book drop, with the library covering half of the cost.
The Winthrop Town Council on June 15 discussed and advanced two town library capital projects: drainage mitigation around the library foundation and installation of a permanent exterior book drop.
Staff said the drainage mitigation was the subject of a single responsive bid from Alden Longfellow's Landscaping & Excavation for $22,500. Contractor John Longfellow joined the meeting online and told councilors the work would likely include installing an underdrain and an external sump pump that would discharge onto a nearby lawn; he cautioned that unexpected ledge or old foundations encountered during excavation could increase costs and pledged to notify the town if conditions required additional work.
On the exterior book drop, staff reported an expected total cost between $12,000 and $15,000; the library has agreed to fund 50% of the project, leaving the town's share in the neighborhood of $6,000–$7,500. Councilors discussed procurement thresholds and requested that any project above the bid threshold be put out to RFP and return to council with recommended contractors.
Council favored funding the two projects from the undesignated fund and approved the town contribution for the book drop up to $7,500, with the understanding the project would return with formal bid results as required by the purchasing policy.
