RANDOLPH — Selectmen rejected two bids for snowplowing and ice control and entered into negotiations with a firm that has plowed Randolph’s roads for 62 years.
Selectman Ed Gorham said selectmen rehired E.C. Barry & Son, which is finishing up a three-year contract, for the job.
Gorham said selectmen decided to stay with Barry after owner Albert “Sonny” Barry expressed interest in “working with the town to change the way some of the plowing is done.”
Barry said in a letter to selectmen he believes townspeople and selectmen were “comfortable and confident with the job that has always been done.”
“This year you seem to want a complete change and I’m not sure of the reason why,” Barry said. “That said, I’m willing to double the salt which is mixed in the sand which will cut back on the amount of sand spread, probably by as much as half the yardage.”
Gorham said selectmen wanted Barry to use more salt and calcium chloride and less sand.
“He’s working with us now to prioritize the streets by class and apply plowing and snow removal accordingly,” Gorham said. “We had another bid that was lower, but there were other factors involved that caused us to decide to not take it.”
Chris Ellis, of Farmingdale, was disqualified even though he had the lowest bid. Town Clerk Lynn Mealey said Ellis did not have the minimum five years experience plowing, as required in the bid specifications.
His bid was $58,500 for each of the three years.
Frank Monroe Construction of Whitefield was the highest bidder. Monroe bid $77,900 for the first year; $80,300, the second year; and $82,000 for the third year.
E.C. Barry & Son of Farmingdale will do the job for $72,536 each of the three years and forego price increases.
“It’s the same thing we paid (Barry) last year and the year before that,” Gorham said. “We had a three-year contract with him, which is finishing up right now.”
Gorham said selectmen will work out the details of Barry’s contract in time for Town Meeting.
“That’s essentially it and hopefully the town will be the better of it,” he said.
The town does not have a bidding ordinance governing procurement.
Mechele Cooper — 621-5663
mcooper@centralmaine.com
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