The Farmingdale Board of Selectmen hope to finish drafting a new snowplowing contract at its meeting Saturday following an agreement last week between the board and the former plowing contractor to terminate the previous contract two years early.

The board and Ellis Construction agreed to end the three-year winter road maintenance contract after only a year because it was a target of frequent blowback at board meetings from a handful of residents, and it contained unclear language regarding the contractor’s responsibilities.

The board met with a representative from the Maine Department of Transportation’s Maine Local Road Center at its meeting Wednesday night to work on a new contract. The selectmen will try finalizing the contract at a newly scheduled meeting at 8 a.m. Saturday at the town office.

David Sirois, chairman of the board, said he hopes the board can issue a new request for bids next week and choose a contractor as soon as possible.

“It’s late in the season. We need to get this thing out, so contractors have enough time to prepare for the winter snowplowing,” he said.

Sirois said members of the public are welcome to attend Saturday’s meeting.

The board awarded a three-year, $487,500 contract to Farmingdale-based Ellis Construction on Aug. 21 last year, angering some residents who called the contract unfair and complained about the contractor’s previous plowing work.

Criticism of the contractor and the contract never let up, even after winter ended. The board held a public hearing July 30 with the town attorney to give residents a chance to voice concerns and ask legal questions about the contract.

Paul Koenig — 621-5663

pkoenig@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @paul_koenig