The Newcastle Board of Selectmen, by a 4-0 vote, awarded a three-year snow removal contract to Hagar Enterprises Sept. 12.
The Damariscotta-based company will replace Gordon Libby as Newcastle’s primary snow removal contractor.
Libby and Farley & Son also bid on the contract, with the latter entering the low bid.
Newcastle Town Administrator Ron Grenier and Road Commissioner Steve Reynolds recommended Hagar’s “competitive,” albeit higher, bid, citing concerns about the Rockport-based Farley & Son’s response time.
Hagar also contracts with Damariscotta. Reynolds oversees roads, facilities and grounds for both towns.
By contracting with Hagar, the towns stand to gain “management efficiencies and operational efficiencies” such as “immediate response time” and seamless communication, Grenier and Reynolds said.
Newcastle will pay Hagar Enterprises $619,644.86 over the life of the contract, about $38,000 more than Farley & Son’s bid.