Just as the hazy, hot days of summer are beginning, the Alna Board of Selectmen finalized contract language for the town’s next snowplowing contract at the board’s meeting June 18.
One of the biggest changes in Alna’s proposed contract is the requirement for potential contractors to provide a list of equipment the company has available.
“We can then determine if it’s adequate to do the job,” First Selectman David Abbott said.
This year will the first time in five years the town has opened up the bidding process. For the past five years, Mark Hanley has been Alna’s snowplowing contractor, but he has decided not to extend his current contract for the 2014-2015 season.
In May, Alna selectmen asked Hanley to attend a meeting of the board to discuss a proposed contract which had increased 5 percent over last year’s total of just over $161,000.
At the May meeting, Hanley decided to retract his bid and told selectmen they should send it out to bid. At that time, Hanley said he wasn’t sure he would submit a new bid.
The draft contract for Alna’s 29 miles of town roads proposes a three-year deal with a probationary period and the option to extend the contract for two additional years.
The board also approved an oversight policy on sand and salt deliveries. The board will direct the town’s road commissioner to sign off after a delivery is made before the board will approve the payment.
Third Selectman David Reingardt reported to fellow board members he had recently visited the town’s sand and salt shed and noticed the supply was low. Reingardt asked fellow board members who had the responsibility of monitoring the shed.
Based on the number of bills processed, Reingardt said he expected the town would have had more sand.
“I am not saying anyone has cheated us,” Reingardt said. “We just need to be sure we are getting what we paid for.”
The board also approved installing a fan in the sand and salt shed. Reingardt said when crews are working inside, the diesel fumes can get intense.
Other business
At the request of Town Clerk Amy Warner, the board gave approval for a Pilates class to meet at the Village School at Puddle Dock.
Warner said the class is a four-week trial session to see if there is interest in the class for Alna residents. Because the class is being offered without charge, selectmen agreed to allow the class to meet.
“If it becomes a commercial adventure, we may have to rethink it,” Reingardt said.
The board also approved the purchase of a new copier for the town office. Warner has said the current copier has not been working properly for some time.
Warner said the new copier will be able to be networked with the office computers and will allow for scanning and emailing as well as copying.
The town will enter a lease-to-own contract with Budget Document Technology of Lewiston and pay $52 per month.
