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Resident raises procurement and conflict-of-interest concerns over gravel purchases
Summary
Local resident Alan Savage told the Select Board that purchases from Beattie Enterprises may violate procurement law when purchases from an elected official exceed statutory limits; the board said a competitive bid request will be prepared and interim purchases came from AB's gravel pit.
At the March 17 meeting resident Alan Savage raised two items for the board's attention: a fence along Stebbins Hill Road that occupies town right-of-way and concerns about recent gravel purchases. Savage told the board he believed town purchases from an elected official must meet competitive-bidding requirements when they exceed statutory limits, saying, "It is against the law."
Selectman Kathy-Jean Lavoie thanked Savage for pointing out the $200 limit and confirmed with Town Manager Jessica Cyr that staff are preparing a competitive bid proposal request. Cyr said Highway Foreman Brown had, in the interim, purchased gravel from AB's gravel pit. Savage also suggested the board consider obtaining bids from other pits, including Cloutier gravel pit.
The board took the comment as an item for follow-up rather than an immediate finding of violation; the transcript does not record any citation to a specific statute or a board determination. Next action: staff will prepare and issue a competitive bid request for future purchases.
Quote: Alan Savage: "It is against the law. If more than a certain amount in goods/services is purchased by the town from an elected official it needs to be by a competitive bid process."
