Board approves amended construction oversight for water/sewer project; missing hydrants trigger warranty investigation

The Farmington Board of Selectmen approved amended construction oversight for the town’s water and sewer project and authorized the Town Administrator to sign a contract for the oversight work.

Water and Sewer Supervisor Charles Tiffany said the oversight amendment is $114,000, bringing the consultant total to $286,900. “This amendment is $114,000 and then the new total was $286,900,” Tiffany said. The board approved the oversight as presented (motion passed 4-0) and authorized the Town Administrator to sign on the board’s behalf.

Tiffany also raised concerns about hydrants and valves the town expected to retain from the contractor. He reported locating partial hydrant components at a private shop and said some hydrant tops appear removed while barrels and stems remain buried or bent, making them unusable for parts. “We need to be made whole because those were ours,” Tiffany said; Acting Town Administrator Paul Sanderson characterized the next step as a warranty claim and staff are continuing an investigation with the project engineers (Wright-Pierce/T F Moran) to develop factual findings.

Why it matters: The oversight amendment clarifies consultant responsibilities and cost for construction administration; the hydrant issue could affect operations and spare-part inventories and may require contract claims or change orders.

Next steps: Staff will finalize paperwork for the oversight contract and proceed with a warranty claim investigation into the missing or damaged hydrants; the board will discuss findings at future meetings.