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Stonington finance board approves a slate of bid waivers for town buildings, trash bags, vests and paving
Summary
The Stonington Board of Finance unanimously approved multiple bid waivers — including ADA countertop and ceiling repairs, a pre-purchase of yellow waste bags, ballistic vests and an $800,000 increase to the paving contract — and heard a request to reserve up to 25% of a possible $230,000 federal grant for radio redundancy.
The Stonington Board of Finance on April 1 unanimously approved a series of bid waivers to address facilities, operational supplies and public-safety equipment.
Roberts, the town's director of administrative services, asked the board to waive bidding to hire Kevin McCarthy to bring public counters in the land use, tax collector and town clerk's offices into Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance at a cost of $23,670, saying the funds are available in the town's ADA account. Roberts told the board McCarthy had done similar work for the assessor's office and can work off-hours to avoid disruption; the motion passed unanimously after a brief question about scheduling.
Roberts also requested a separate waiver to have McCarthy repair water damage to a third-floor ceiling and vestibule for $11,900. The board moved, seconded and approved that waiver unanimously.
Jill Senior, the town's solid-waste manager, requested an early purchase of official yellow trash bags for fiscal year 2026'27 from Waste Zero for $157,875, saying the vendor agreed to hold pricing at last year's level and that early ordering amid market uncertainty could save the town roughly $7,000 compared with the budgeted amount. Board members asked about recent quality-control problems with some lots; Senior said replacements have become less frequent and recent shipments show improved thickness and seams.
Captain Schneider of the police department requested a bid waiver to buy replacement ballistic vests from Angel Armor. Schneider said the department evaluated five manufacturers, that Angel Armor met the department's specifications and that the department expects to pursue a federal 50% reimbursement through the Bulletproof Partnership Program. Schneider gave an updated per-vest price of $1,502 and said the total request was $59,625 pending final counts; the board approved the waiver unanimously.
Public Works sought and received approval to extend and increase the town's paving contract with Ed French and Sons by an additional $800,000 to allow the company to perform full-depth pavement, reclamation and patching work townwide. Presenters said consolidating work with a single contractor improves schedule reliability and can be cost-competitive with a state contract because the company will group town work to reduce per-unit pricing.
All of the above motions were moved, seconded and approved on voice votes with unanimous "I" responses recorded at the meeting.
What happens next: departments will proceed to negotiate purchase orders and schedule work under the approvals the board granted. Several presenters said final start dates and exact quantities (for vests and some countertop/ceiling work) are still being confirmed.
