Committee picks Gartley & Dorski as preferred pier design firm, plans follow-up meeting

The Mount Desert harbor committee voted to move forward with Gartley & Dorski as the preferred design firm for its main pier project and to invite the firm to a near-term meeting to answer written questions about cost, schedule and contract terms. Committee members said the firm’s local experience and lower proposed cost were decisive factors.

“Those are my comments,” said the member who led the firm comparison, noting Gartley & Dorski’s local work and the firm’s lower bid relative to other respondents. Committee members compared four proposals — Stantech, GZA, SGH and Gartley & Dorski — on cost, testing approach and local familiarity. One member called out Gartley & Dorski’s proposed weekly site meetings and daily timesheets as strengths that bode well for project oversight.

Members also flagged items they want clarified in writing before the next meeting: whether previously completed survey data can be used to reduce the firm’s cost, more detail on the firms’ safety records and subcontractor arrangements, and whether the design contract should include liquidated-damage language (several members noted liquidated damages are more commonly used in construction contracts than in design agreements).

The committee directed staff to contact Gartley & Dorski and arrange availability for a special meeting within about 10 days; committee members agreed to forward questions in advance so the firm could prepare detailed responses. Committee members stressed urgency, saying the existing pier is deteriorating and an efficient design phase is needed to keep the overall schedule on track.

Next steps: staff will email the packet and proposed questions to selectmen and the committee, then confirm a date and time for the follow-up meeting with the preferred firm.