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Northfield Select Board concurs with state to award Main Street (Bridge 60) replacement despite higher costs
Summary
The Select Board voted to concur with the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s recommendation to award the Main Street (Bridge 60) replacement contract to the low bidder included in the state memo and authorized the town manager to execute necessary documents; members raised concerns that the town’s share has risen to an estimated $750,000 compared with earlier expectations.
The Northfield Select Board voted to concur with the Vermont Agency of Transportation’s recommendation to award the Main Street (Bridge 60) replacement contract and authorized the town manager to execute the necessary contract documents.
Manager Mary presented the state memo and the low bid recommended for Northfield BF024158, the Main Street bridge replacement, telling the board the state had performed much of the project work to date and suggested the board accept the recommendation. “...I would urge that we do,” Manager Mary said while reading the packet memo and the suggested motion.
Board members expressed frustration at the project's higher-than-expected cost. One committee member said, “I am sad to see the numbers on this project having doubled from where we started out,” noting the town’s share was now estimated at about $750,000, versus a previous expectation closer to $350,000. Members discussed borrowing to cover the town share and noted state cleanup funds and other mitigation (described in the memo) will reduce the town’s exposure.
The board also discussed supply-chain and material delays—particularly steel—and the importance of working with an experienced contractor to avoid further delays. Manager Mary reported that cleanup funding and state assistance had reduced projected local exposure from approximately $2 million to about $750,000 as reflected in the packet.
The motion to concur with the state’s recommendation was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote. The board recorded the motion to authorize the manager to execute contract documents and any necessary amendments; the vote was taken by voice and the motion carried as announced in the meeting.
Votes at a glance - Bridge BF024158 (Main Street / Bridge 60): Motion to concur with Vermont Agency of Transportation’s recommendation and authorize the town manager to execute contract documents — approved by voice vote (motion moved and seconded). Related contract bidder name appears in the meeting packet (transcribed in the record); packet contains the state memo dated June 9.
What happens next Manager Mary said staff will notify the board if there are any major hiccups or changes to contract terms, and will provide updates as the contract administration proceeds. The board directed staff to keep the project and budget implications on upcoming agendas.
