The Alna Board of Selectmen will have more flexibility to manage town projects after unanimously approving a change to the Alna Public Funds Administration Policy.
The policy previously required the board to go through a competitive bid process for any non-emergency project expected to exceed $3000.
The amendment requires the selectmen to discuss projects in this range with the department or official presenting the project, but gives the board the option not to go out to bid.
Alna First Selectman David Abbott proposed the amendment after a debate about the policy and how the board applies the policy at a May 2 board meeting.
The board voted 2-1 to suspend the policy and hire a contractor to grade town roads for $3500 at the May 2 meeting.
Abbott, at that meeting, said he did not support the policy when the board adopted it in April 2011 and still does not support the policy, but believes the board should follow it as long as it remains in effect.
Second Selectman Jonathan Villeneuve said Abbott should propose a change.
“I think we nail ourselves down to an amount of money and then we decide to suspend the policy and go ahead and do it,” Abbott said of his proposal May 16. “This way, it gives us the ability to do that and we don’t have to suspend the policy.”
In other town business, the board unanimously approved a one-year extension in the snowplowing contract with Hanley Construction Inc. for $162,895, the same price as 2012-2013.
The selectmen also appointed Albert Lawrence to serve as an alternate on the Alna Planning Board.
