PHILLIPSTON – The Selectboard Wednesday night awarded a contract for making some upgrades to the building that houses the Police Department. Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Flynn said the town has received two bids to do the work.
“We were hoping to get them started as soon as possible,” he said. “The lower bidder cannot get to the work until the spring. The higher bidder can get started on the work immediately, which is what we wanted.”
Flynn said the higher bid, $39,750, came from C.M. Chartier Contracting of Templeton; the low bid of $31,000 was entered by Jay M. Guilmette Construction of Orange. Flynn added that the town had received “better references on Chartier than on Guilmette.”
“So, I’m recommending that we go with the bidder who came in higher because they can get the job done immediately,” said Flynn.
“The building itself is 53 years old,” said Police Chief Kevin Dodge, “so, it has 53-year-old siding, windows. With the upgrades that are going to be made it will be more energy – heating or cooling – efficient. If anybody has seen the station, it’s been scraped and painted a few times. It will be visually improved, as well as energy efficient.”
Dodge said the siding that’s there will be stripped down to the sheathing and repairs to any damage found underneath will be made. The existing siding will be replaced.
“Anything that needs to be repaired or replaced has been figured into the quote,” he said. “They will repair it, re-wrap it, do the insulation, and then do the siding.”
In response to a question from Selectboard Vice Chair John Telepciak, Dodge said the new siding will be vinyl.
“I’ll make a motion to go with the higher bid, even though there’s a lower bid” said Telepciak. “Time is of the essence.”
Board Chair Kim Pratt pointed out that voters at town meeting earlier this year had approved $40,000 for the work.
The board voted unanimously to approve Telepciak’s motion.