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Selectmen approve cooperative contracts for guardrails, striping and catch-basin cleaning
Summary
The board approved cooperative-purchase contracts for guardrails (Atlas Fence), line striping (CROG), and catch-basin cleaning (American Pipe), while members pressed staff on scope, budgeting and how many basins can be cleaned under the fiscal estimate.
The Board of Selectmen approved awarding cooperative-purchase contracts recommended by Public Works for guardrails, line striping and catch-basin cleaning.
Director of Public Works Gary Schneider explained that using cooperative bids (CROG/DAS) saves time and typically yields lower unit prices. He told the board the low bid for a standard metal beam guardrail was "$33 a foot," compared with $35 and $42 from other bidders. Schneider also said the town budgets for cleaning roughly one-third of its catch basins per year. "We have about 3,000 catch basins out there, and we do 0.333 a year," he said, adding that the work is scheduled in summer and fall when temperatures allow contractors to use water in trucks.
Board members probed procurement and scope questions: how many basins would be cleaned under the estimated budget, how the town ensures the contractor performs work, and who oversees quality assurance. Schneider said a senior assistant director (Dan Math[eson]) and the general foreman will manage quality control and that annual reports record miles of striping and number of basins cleaned. One selectman voiced concern that past practice might fall short of maintenance needs and said he planned to scrutinize the budget backing these contracts. The board voted to approve the recommended cooperative awards.
