Council approves selection of VHB for Prospect Heights redesign, contingent on CDBG‑DR award

The Barre City Council approved a consent‑agenda item selecting VHB as the preferred firm to perform redesign work at Prospect Heights, with execution of the contract made contingent on the city receiving its CDBG‑DR grant award.

City Manager Nicholas said the procurement was competitively bid, evaluated by a three‑person panel and awarded to the highest‑scoring proposer. He asked the council to authorize notifying VHB of selection while withholding contract execution until grant funding is confirmed: “We would notify VHB that they've been selected as the winner of the RFP. But we would not execute that contract absent receipt of the CDBG Doctor application that we made this fall.” The mayor confirmed the selection materials were circulated to council prior to the vote so members could review scoring details.

Council members discussed the scope of the first phase and confirmed the redesign work will produce bid‑ready documents so the city can solicit construction prices. Councilor Spalding asked whether the work would materially change unit counts; staff said the redesign may fine‑tune estimates but would not produce large swings from the due‑diligence snapshot. The motion to approve the consent agenda — including this authorization with the contingency — carried by voice vote.

The council’s action authorizes staff to proceed with selection steps but links formal contract signature to external grant approval, limiting the city’s financial exposure until CDBG‑DR funds are secured. Staff said they will return contract documents to council as a courtesy before signing.