RSU 63 board approves Holden boiler replacement bid contingent on FY27 budget vote

The RSU 63 Board of Directors voted May 18 to accept Mechanical Services’ bid for the Holden boiler replacement, with the signed contract conditioned on approval of the district’s FY27 budget at the June 9 referendum.

Superintendent Sheila Caldwell told the board she recommended Mechanical Services based on experience with the district’s current boiler, vendor references and price. Board member Jamie Youngblood noted that funds earmarked in the FY27 budget would not be available for spending until after the referendum and the start of the new fiscal year. Jack Turcotte withdrew an initial motion, and Chip Haskell then moved a revised motion that approval be subject to negotiated conditions, that the contract be signed only if the FY27 budget is approved, and that any payment requests would not be fulfilled until the start of FY27. The motion was seconded by Jamie Youngblood.

The board recorded a roll-call vote in favor: Jamie Youngblood, Amy Hart, Chip Haskell, Rachel Downs, Whitney Gould-Cookson and Jack Turcotte voted yes. Two members were absent. The motion passed unanimously among members present.

The board’s conditional approval means the vendor and superintendent may finalize terms but the district will not execute payments or obligate FY27 funds until the referendum outcome and the July 1 start of the fiscal year. The board did not take further action at the meeting to authorize pre-appropriation expenditures.