Board approves time-and-materials contract with Clark Construction for stormwater catch basin, members question cost comparisons

The Select Board approved a time-and-materials contract with Clark Construction for installation of a stormwater catch basin, with funds coming from the Public Works Road Reserve account (account 4050100-24573). The meeting packet noted an approximate unencumbered balance of $336,930.45. The board voted to move forward after discussion about cost controls and oversight.

The board’s presenter explained that utilities close to the installation site complicate the work and that a time-and-materials approach was proposed to avoid obligating the town to a potentially high lump-sum quote. “I didn't want the town to be on the hook for the full amount of the quote that was given to us when I thought it was gonna come in cheaper,” the presenter said. Board members pressed for an hourly multiplier and clearer estimates of likely hours to allow apples-to-apples comparisons with a previously cited $90,000 quote. The presenter said the design engineer will do construction observation on site to verify hours and materials and that rates were compared with MDOT time-and-materials contracts.

During discussion the board clarified cost-sharing for design work: the landowner covered 60% of the design cost and the town 40%, with the presenter describing the town portion in ballpark as $10,000. The motion to approve the contract was moved, seconded and adopted; the board also directed that the engineer observe on-site work and that the town require resubmission of invoices if on-site work did not match reported time and materials.