News

Rowley Town Notebook: Firm chosen for Bradstreet subdivision

By Lynne Hendricks
Correspondent
Published: June 5, 2008

After considering quotes from three engineering companies, the Board of Selectmen has chosen low bidder Meridian Associates to handle the subdivision of the town-owned Bradstreet Farm property. Meridian agreed to do the work for $13,800, which was substantially lower than the cost estimates provided by Griffin/Kane at $17,500, and WC Cammett at $18,950.

Once completed, Meridian's formal subdivision plan will be submitted to the town's Planning Board for final approval.

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Selectmen officially presented Maryellen Mighill this week with an Unsung Heroine Award to recognize her efforts on behalf of Rowley's seniors. The official citation was accompanied by flowers for the woman who volunteers much of her time to the town's Council on Aging, the Grange and to seniors in general in her capacity as the town's health nurse.

"She's an overall advocate for the senior citizens of Rowley and she's certainly deserving of that award," said selectmen Chairman Dave Petersen.

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Arguing that some municipal jobs are just too small to require seeking three separate bids, town leaders are asking Rep. Harriett Stanley (D-West Newbury) to support a "Municipal Management Tools" bill being sponsored by Sen. Bruce Tarr in the state Senate that would loosen those requirements for cities and towns in Massachusetts.

"The law as currently written requires the town to obtain three written quotes for minor carpentry projects, starting at $0," selectmen argued in a June 2 letter to Stanley. "This is not an easy task and it undermines our ability to perform routine maintenance and repairs to the town's buildings."

The proposed amendment is part of the Senate version of the 2009 state budget bill, and seeks to amend Section 44A of Chapter 149 by raising public bidding thresholds for small construction, reconstruction, installation, demolition or maintenance and repair projects. If passed, the new thresholds would require municipalities to receive three written bids only when job costs exceed $5,000. Jobs under $5,000 would no longer be required to seek bids.

"Right now if we want to replace a door handle, we have to go out and get bids," said Petersen. "You can't even get people to give us quotes on some of these small projects."

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Board of Selectmen: Monday, June 9, 7 p.m., Town Hall

Finance Committee: Tuesday, June 10, 7 p.m., Town Hall

Library Trustees: Tuesday, June 10, 7:30 p.m., Library

Lynne Hendricks covers Rowley for The Daily News. She can be reached at wiehe@verizon.net.