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Grafton Planning Commission reviews wastewater RFP and ordinance; members flag contractor concerns
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a resubmitted wastewater RFP, discussed contractor misunderstandings about scope (testing versus remediation), and considered a $10,000 estimate from a regional consultant to support a wastewater ordinance focused on education and training.
The Grafton Planning Commission examined resubmission language for a wastewater RFP and reviewed a separate wastewater ordinance proposal under item 5. Commissioners said several bidders appeared to have misread the RFP as a remediation contract rather than a surveillance, testing and education project required for state grant reimbursement.
Why it matters: The RFP and ordinance underlie work that the town intends to fund or support through state grant reimbursement. Members emphasized that bidders must understand the scope so the town can secure reimbursements and meet state reporting requirements; they said contract language should avoid obligating small firms to long, risky commitments.
Key details and debate: S3 (Committee member) said many firms are "used to going out and testing towns and then getting in the business of remediation, and that's not what we're about," and urged clearer RFP language so proposals directly address the surveillance and testing deliverables the state requires. The Commission also discussed whether a hydrologist should be explicitly included in the RFP and whether proposals should be time‑and‑materials or fixed‑price. Chair (S1) read that the state had asked to see invoices by the end of September, underscoring the need for timely billing documentation.
Ordinance proposal and consultant estimate: The Commission reviewed a wastewater ordinance scoped by a consultant identified as Mike McConnell (Winter Regional). McConnell provided an estimate of about $10,000 focused largely on education and training rather than physical inspections or remediation; commissioners asked that McConnell submit an invoice or contract so the work can be included in grant invoicing.
Next steps: Members agreed to tighten the RFP language, explicitly reference the original RFP in the resubmission packet, ask respondents clarifying questions about scope, and request an invoice or contract from McConnell to allow the town to claim reimbursement from the state. No final contract or ordinance adoption occurred at this meeting.
