Bethel Town Board gives manager authority to manage lawn-care contract after alleged breaches

The Bethel Town Board voted to give the town manager authority to manage, negotiate or terminate the town’s grass-cutting contract after the interim town manager reported the contractor was not meeting obligations.

At a special-call meeting, the interim town manager told commissioners the town executed new contracts in March with CNW (Bob Wall) for grass cutting and residential vegetation debris pickup but that crews had failed to keep cemeteries and other areas maintained. “CNW is in breach of the contract because there’s not — they’re not fulfilling the responsibilities of the contract,” the interim manager said.

Commissioner (speaking) moved that “the Bethel Town Board give town manager Scott Elliott complete authority to manage, negotiate or and or terminate the Bob Wall grama cutting contract … and award contract to a new vendor at manager's sole discretion.” The motion was called and carried; the mayor stated a quorum of three of five commissioners was present when the vote passed.

The manager said town crews have had to mow some sites covered by the contract and that a vendor from Robertsonville has offered to perform mowing and debris pickup at the same price and under town terms. Commissioners discussed whether the motion should explicitly cover both the grass-cutting and vegetation-debris contracts; after clarification they approved authority covering both contracts so the manager could pursue resolution or replacement.

By the end of the discussion the board had authorized the town manager to address nonperformance directly, including negotiating a settlement or terminating the contract and contracting with a new vendor if needed.

The board did not record a roll-call vote with individual names in the transcript; the mayor announced the motion as “carried” after members voted by raising hands. The meeting adjourned after the board completed its agenda.