[0:07] It's 7701. Um, this is the

[0:12] August 25th Newcastle Sledboard meeting on to order. Um, how many amendments to

[0:19] the agenda? >> No. Okay. Hearing none, moving to

[0:26] meeting minutes. Um this is from the previous meeting August 11th

[0:31] and um I believe two uh well I wasn't here. Um so um

[0:37] » I'll move that we approve the minutes as presented.

[0:41] » I'll second that. >> Okay. Um those that were here um all

[0:46] those in favor. Okay. That's four. My abstension because

[0:51] I wasn't present and that motion passes. Moving to um

[0:58] unfinished business um fee schedule. [laughter]

[1:05] » Oh yeah, maybe that's uh interesting. Okay, public comments not on the agenda.

[1:11] Anybody? Okay, not seeing anybody raise their

[1:15] hand. Moving to unfinished business fee schedule.

[1:19] Um now we had um street vendor application.

[1:24] We Do you think we move that to before this

[1:29] or >> this is fast?

[1:32] » Yeah. Okay. We'll just stick with the fee schedule. Um I think this is um this

[1:38] is an amendment to what we approved in July which was a revised fee schedule.

[1:44] Um apparently there's been some further consideration by the staff

[1:49] um for active permits and it's we're talking very minor changes here. $30 to

[1:54] kind of reorganize it a little bit um just to make their life um their

[1:59] organization a little bit better. So I think it's pretty straightforward.

[2:04] » I'll move to amend the fee schedule to reflect the amounts identified in the

[2:08] provided proposed planning fee schedule dated 821 2025.

[2:13] » Second that >> it look it looked to me like the total

[2:17] fees for each of those items will remain unchanged. They're just moving. If I

[2:22] understand it correctly, they have the consistent $30 application fee and then

[2:27] the others will reduce to compensate for that. Is that correct?

[2:30] » That is correct. >> Okay.

[2:36] » Um so, uh let's take a vote. All those in favor

[2:41] motion by um nothing.

[2:46] » Okay. So, um, new business, we have a vendor permit. Um, and this is for, um,

[2:54] so I'm just trying to get to the real name of the business here.

[2:58] » Backyard Butchers. >> Backyard Butchers. And I believe Ivan,

[3:01] you're on, um, on the line here. Um, do you want to

[3:05] just tell us a little bit about your business? Have a chance

[3:09] » yourself? >> Can everybody hear me? Okay.

[3:12] » Absolutely. >> Okay. Sorry, I apologize. I'm actually

[3:14] in the middle of coaching my son's four-year-old T-ball team, so that's why

[3:17] I'm outside. Uh but I but uh this is a welcome break. I appreciate it. Um

[3:22] anyhow, um yes, Backyard Butchers. Uh we are a company. We've got about 16 trucks

[3:28] right now nationwide. They are freezer trucks and what we do, we work with one

[3:33] excellent distributor um out of the Chicago, Illinois area, Amity Packing

[3:38] Company Incorporated. They work with a lot of local farms there in the in the

[3:42] Midwest. um provide high quality uh meat meat products. Uh they process the the

[3:49] cattle, they uh prepare it for us and uh what we do is we will then uh set up at

[3:56] just different uh private businesses across the country. We'll market uh

[4:01] extensively through Facebook and radio ads. So once we're approved to be there,

[4:05] you'll start seeing us pop up on Facebook. you hear us in some of the

[4:08] local radio stations and uh we will set up uh at the location um I think it's

[4:14] Louis Doe um there um in Newcastle uh for about a week or so and we will sell

[4:20] these frozen and prepackaged meat products. Uh we're able to offer them

[4:24] these high quality meat products at uh discounted rates. Um so you'll get um uh

[4:30] they're all prepackaged meat so you don't get to like pick and choose your

[4:33] cuts of meats but we do have like different bundles that we offer. Um, so

[4:38] you'll probably hear about it from your neighbors or friends or um and

[4:42] hopefully, you know, if anybody listening wants to stop by. Guess it's

[4:45] like a free advertising if we get approved. So, um, come on out. We'll

[4:49] make sure y'all get um, you know, great products at a great price. Um, you'll

[4:53] see the 20 ribe eyes for uh, $39. So, that's a smaller cutter ribeye, but it's

[4:59] an excellent cut. and and you can um that usually gets people out there and

[5:03] we can offer them the larger larger cuts, larger meat products that we

[5:07] offer. Um but yes, uh that's what we do. We travel the country and um we have uh

[5:12] some success doing this and hopefully um so we had to work with Department of A

[5:16] there in Maine uh to get three trucks licensed. Uh we have those trucks uh

[5:21] currently licensed and they're good through the end of the year. Um, so the

[5:25] department of bag there in Maine knows that we're there and we've just

[5:28] contacted every city that we wanting to to visit to make sure that all of the

[5:33] local licenses and permits are also taken care of. So that's what we're

[5:36] hoping to do here tonight.

[5:41] » So it's all frozen, not like you're not selling anything hot. It's just frozen

[5:45] meat. >> No, no, we don't do the cooking

[5:47] ourselves. Uh, it's all frozen, prepackaged, just like a ice cream truck

[5:52] for men. [laughter]

[5:56] And women, you know, women like steak, too. Women like steak, too.

[6:00] » So, my understanding this is a one time uh this is one one time deal for

[6:07] » correct >> Wednesday to Monday.

[6:10] » We would like So, that's the current uh request that we're asking. Wednesday

[6:13] through Monday. I will say that Maine uh the the other locations that we've been

[6:17] in Maine um we've had a lot of positive feedback from the different cells. um

[6:22] different communities. So, um it's possible. I don't know if we have to

[6:26] appear before another select board or if we can talk about it now. Um if the

[6:30] property owner is okay with us being there for another week, we'd like to

[6:34] discuss that option as well. And if I need to amend the application dates or

[6:38] provide new written permission, whatever you need for me or if it's just, hey,

[6:42] this meeting was only for Wednesday through Monday, perfectly okay. I

[6:45] understand that. And next time we are in a meeting, I'll I'll be more uh you

[6:50] know, I'll add those details of potentially wanting to extend past that

[6:53] initial week. >> Yeah. Ivan, this this is this

[6:57] application here is for these dates. So you'll have to come back for another

[7:02] » No. >> Okay.

[7:02] » No, >> the street vendor ordinance specifically

[7:05] says that um it's good for one year. >> Oh, just dates on here.

[7:09] » Yeah, doesn't matter. Our approval is good for a year.

[7:12] » All right. There you go. >> There you go.

[7:14] » My mistake. Well, hopefully the community likes being there and then

[7:20] we'll be I'll just send a courtesy email um saying, "Hey, I think we're going to

[7:24] be here another week if it goes well." >> Okay.

[7:28] » Motion to approve the permit.

[7:33] » Sure. I'll make a motion to approve the permit.

[7:36] » I'll second you. Got it. Okay. Karen and Tom second. And um all those in favor

[7:43] opposed. >> Okay. So, five nothing and that pass.

[7:49] Thank you. >> Good luck, Ivan.

[7:51] » Appreciate it. >> Excellent. Thank you. Is it So, can I

[7:54] just uh for clarity purposes, is it okay for us to open this Wednesday? Will I

[7:58] get something via email after this meeting or is there another like

[8:01] approval process after this? >> I think you're good to go. That's it. I

[8:05] » Okay, perfect. Thank you all. Have a wonderful evening. You

[8:11] » should have told him not to stand too close to the battle.

[8:14] » Those kids are brutal. >> That's right.

[8:20] » That's where he was though. That was nice and sunny.

[8:22] » That looked like Texas to me. The fences and such.

[8:25] » He's based in Texas. >> Yeah,

[8:27] » that looked like my son's backyard. But >> um Okay, new business item 6B. This is

[8:33] the W road miner span. Um, so we have um we have some bid openings to do tonight

[8:42] and we had five contractors provide bids on this um on this project and we have

[8:52] Carl IRS from that right >> Carls from uh VHB

[8:58] and uh so why don't we have Carl come up and run us through the bids.

[9:05] » Yeah. Thank you. Um, so the bid analysis, I know Kevin, you had emailed

[9:10] that to everyone. I've got a hard copy. Would anyone like a hard copy to

[9:16] » right behind you?

[9:24] » It's a lot of little numbers. >> It It is. It is. And And if you can read

[9:29] them all, that's that's impressive. Um, yeah. Actually, you know what? If he's

[9:35] got extras. Yeah. It' be easier. >> It'd be easier to look at the whole

[9:40] thing. >> Yeah.

[9:41] » Yeah. And for some reason when I zoom in it doesn't

[9:45] » Well, he printed them out. >> I don't you might need glass.

[9:49] » So, yeah, I don't you know, there's there's a lot of data here and so you

[9:53] know, if you need a um magnifying glass or something, I I

[9:58] understand. Um >> Okay. The mark is up. Oh yeah, that's

[10:03] that's yours to to keep and frame if you want whatever you want to do with it. Um

[10:10] uh yeah, so um like has been mentioned, we received five five bits fast. Um

[10:18] would it be obviously they're listed at the bottom and of of this handout. Um,

[10:24] and we have not yet posted them online, but but we we will uh put them up uh to

[10:31] ju just the uh just the bids themselves would be posted online.

[10:38] » Carl, yeah. Um before we get into the numbers, can you just um just help us

[10:43] understand um you know so also people new to the project just really quickly

[10:48] what the project is and then in just those three sentences and then also the

[10:54] bid requirements the sort of lowhanging requirements um you know bond issues um

[11:00] so just make sure all the qualifications are in place so we don't have to

[11:04] disqualify anybody before we start looking at numbers. Uh yeah. So uh the

[11:09] project itself consists of replacing this three-sided uh concrete frame. This

[11:16] is 14 foot span frame on Lynch Road um with a 50-ft span bridge that consists

[11:24] of concrete abutments uh with a steel girder uh concrete deck

[11:30] superructure uh and that also involves a stream

[11:34] realignment. That's that's the uh project in a

[11:38] nutshell for for enhanced uh hydraulics. Um so the uh yeah the contractor is uh

[11:50] required in addition to submitting a bid uh is is required to um also submit a

[11:57] bond to uh just ensuring that they can they can bond the the money required.

[12:03] Um, we we did uh we did specify uh that they submit proof of of um

[12:13] ability to to do the work based on past projects. Um not not all not all

[12:19] contractors uh did that. Um uh I will say that uh all the contractors who who

[12:28] submitted that's that's ultimately a matter of protection for the town. Uh

[12:32] all the contractors that did submit on this I would say are are certainly

[12:37] competent if not highly competent to do the work. Um I if if the town feels that

[12:44] those contractors that did not submit those those uh the proof of of the three

[12:50] projects of former projects um if if the town feels that they would like to see

[12:56] that they could require it. Um but but I I would I would assure you that

[13:02] personally uh VHB knows and I know I know personally that that all the

[13:07] contractors are are certainly competent to do the work. Um and so you could you

[13:12] could uh yeah please >> Well, no, I just sorry to cut you off. I

[13:16] was just to make quick reference to the the bid requirements. I think the town

[13:22] has the right to wait or um you know any details or um take the higher a little

[13:29] bit. So we have discretion on >> that that is correct. Yeah.

[13:34] » Or if there were any concerns you could just uh you could observe a

[13:40] non-compliance and request request the the compliance of of proof

[13:46] of of prior experience. Um uh so so yeah in in my opinion uh that

[13:54] that would that would not be required for for these contractors but again

[13:59] that's that's up up to you that's that's just my opinion. Um so uh

[14:06] as you can see uh and the numbers here so so on the on the left hand side is

[14:15] the engineers estimate um uh are that that is I I will be quite

[14:21] frank and say in the in the last few years given the market volatility that

[14:28] is not an easy exercise and we have seen plenty of cases is where uh bids come in

[14:35] wildly different from from our estimate. Um and uh

[14:42] a number of humbling experiences in our in our industry lately. However, um what

[14:48] so I just a couple of observations and I I I I can would it be helpful for for

[14:54] the record for me to list off these five bids or just talk generic? No, I think

[14:59] um I think audibly we should >> Okay.

[15:01] » At least the bottom number and the firm is.

[15:05] » Yeah. So, so CPM is the low bidder. Uh their bid was uh 1,246,49624.

[15:15] Uh Wyman and Simpson was the next bidder uh with $1,464,690.

[15:26] T-Buck uh was next with $1,583,822

[15:34] and 0 cents. Reed and Reed next at $1,980,1990.

[15:42] And then last, Scott Construction with $2,224,530.

[15:49] Um the uh the the range is uh is is a

[15:58] little striking. Uh [laughter] it it it could be

[16:02] considered very striking. I have I have seen uh a number of project I live in

[16:07] Kennybunk. There was a recent project down there that that had a considerable

[16:12] range. So there there are a number of of factors here. uh one of which includes

[16:18] that this is winter work. Uh there there are various other factors that can play

[16:23] into that range. So that isn't necessarily concerning

[16:27] um to me. Um what what is striking I I was surprised to see that the average of

[16:35] the bids is almost spot on what our estimate was. So yeah, take that or

[16:41] leave it. I was just surprised. So um and pleased um

[16:48] and uh and and so um yeah I I I can I can speak more about it but I but I

[16:56] think as a summary that that's a um none of these bids are are concerning there

[17:04] the spread is relatively consistent. Um and um uh the obviously the the low

[17:13] bid is is a little bit striking. Um but uh yeah, there are a number of factors

[17:20] uh again including winter work, full closure, various other things that um

[17:26] that who who knows. It's anybody's guess, but that's it is what it is. So,

[17:31] so is there is there anything in your um analysis of all these numbers that you

[17:38] want to draw our attention to or you think stands out or have any particular

[17:42] importance or not? >> Yeah, honestly um nothing in particular

[17:50] stands out very much um except that perhaps the um the steel

[17:57] um

[18:02] What line item? >> My apologies. Bear with bear with me

[18:07] here. >> Yeah, there's um

[18:13] yeah, so um you know the the uh the structural steel

[18:20] cost that's item 50471. um you know that that um

[18:28] uh that is likely the fact that it came in under our cost um is uh would

[18:34] probably be a seasonal factor here. Um often times steel will will take a dip

[18:40] in the winter time and then you'll start to see it pick up a bit in the spring.

[18:46] Um and uh

[18:51] um yeah um honestly other than that you know it's

[18:58] it's um you know the the the uh the concrete

[19:04] prices were uh were were fairly reasonable. Um

[19:10] uh that's that's one that's one item that we like to take a look at is is

[19:16] what you know that that cost is an in in place cost essentially. Um not just it's

[19:22] the material and the labor. Um uh so

[19:29] yeah I there there really isn't anything I mean

[19:33] if you have a question on any particular item I I yeah sure yeah that's fine.

[19:39] » So just looking at the low bid they have one two three four five six seven eight

[19:44] line items that to me don't make any sense

[19:49] » have nothing in >> they have 20 cents.

[19:51] » Yeah. So, um I I'm glad you asked about that. So, um so those those items so so

[19:59] we put this out in accordance with I would say um standard main DOT practice.

[20:07] um those particular items um are are a way of covering contractors

[20:14] under under any number of situations that they that

[20:18] that it it's a way to protect the the contractor. Um CPM apparently chose to

[20:26] put that labor into other items. >> Okay.

[20:29] » Um and so that that's just how they chose their payment mechanism

[20:35] essentially. >> Okay. Um, so yes, I I think it's

[20:38] reasonable to to to scratch your head at that and wonder that's really a

[20:42] contractor choice. >> Okay. And then the other thing and and

[20:46] you may not have any idea why it varies so much, but the price of um the coffer

[20:51] dams varied wildly between contractors. And is that

[20:55] » Yeah. >> because they're um some of them are are

[21:00] putting other other parts of the project into that copper dam price or is that

[21:04] just a different way of constructing the copper dam or what's

[21:08] » Yeah. >> Any thoughts? a little, you know, I I

[21:11] would I I would really not want to be too dogmatic as to how what exactly is

[21:17] going on, but yes, it is possible that the contractor

[21:22] um put put their money. You know, sometimes because of where a a task

[21:30] occurs in a project can can drive um where the contractor puts puts their

[21:37] money. So like the stream movement might be factored into the coffer dam or

[21:42] something like that. >> Um perhaps um perhaps it's means and

[21:46] methods as well. Um often times it's you know and that's not something we can

[21:51] dictate. >> Sure.

[21:52] » Um and so different contractors have different means and methods and ways of

[21:56] getting it done. >> So as long as they do so in accordance

[21:59] with, >> you know, permitting and standards and

[22:02] everything, then that's acceptable. So yeah,

[22:10] » you had uh drawn our attention to the structural concrete line item

[22:16] 502.219. >> That's right.

[22:21] You put a number of 375, but we range from 275, 325, 375,

[22:29] 625, and 4

[22:34] 37. >> Yeah.

[22:35] » 500. Is that another case where other numbers are being sort of absorbed into

[22:41] that line item? You think it's not like we're getting more or less concrete?

[22:46] » It's possible. It's possible that uh labor prices for particular contractors

[22:54] are dictating that. I again it's it's um it's ultimately it is a question mark.

[23:01] » Okay. >> Ultimately it is. Yeah. Yeah. I I I

[23:04] would say that um that for all of these contractors, given both my personal

[23:12] experience and also the experience of my colleagues, that that none of those

[23:18] numbers are are cause for suspicion or anything like that. That they are that

[23:23] they are are reliable and competent contractors.

[23:36] Yeah. any >> can you um just um comment a little bit

[23:41] about the firms your familiarity with the firms just in general like CPM

[23:48] is this firm um you know uh I did I did a quick um review on you know the

[23:56] websites >> kind of got an idea some are out of

[23:59] state some are regional some are main local um just just want to get your sort

[24:04] of idea >> yeah Um will will CPM uh will CPM Wyman

[24:11] and Simpson Tabach and Reed and Reed have have a long history of uh you know

[24:17] respectively and in their different ways have a long history of of doing of doing

[24:22] work of this kind. Scott Construction is a bit newer. I have a colleague who has

[24:27] more a more intimate understanding of of them than I can speak to. Um I I I

[24:34] personally have uh worked with CPM and Reed Reed uh excuse me, Tbuk on uh on a

[24:40] few projects. Uh yeah, they do they just they do a lot of work for main DOT.

[24:45] Wyman and Simpson. Reed and Reed has done work in the state for 100 years. Um

[24:49] so they're they are uh all of these contractors are well known to the DOT

[24:56] DOT folk and and have done yeah they've done a lot of work in this state over

[25:01] the years and and this sort of a project would be bread you know the standard

[25:06] like bread and butter for them. So >> yeah um did that did that answer your

[25:11] question? >> Yeah that was it.

[25:15] » Yeah. I mean projects that like people have

[25:19] seen in the area for various you know companies like Reed and Reed did the

[25:23] route one bridge uh debuck did the route 90 in

[25:29] Warren >> um I don't know if you guys go up route

[25:33] 90 that that bridge replacement >> um Wyman and Simpson right now I just

[25:38] saw a 95 they're doing some overpass work there

[25:42] » they're doing some overpass work CPM was recently awarded Um, exit 15 uh over

[25:49] 295. >> Yeah.

[25:50] » Um, so >> Scott, I feel like I've seen them

[25:53] somewhere, but I can't >> I I am not Yeah, again they're they're

[25:58] they're a bit newer, but but they they have they have been around a little bit.

[26:03] Um, so yeah, I again I have a colleague who has a more um more intimate

[26:10] awareness of all the comingings and goings of of the contracting community.

[26:14] Um and uh and and he he trusts uh Scott as well. So yeah, know stuff. So

[26:27] » I'm kind of curious if Seth if you have any thoughts or any questions. I know

[26:32] you just got the information. >> Yeah, I mean I can um I can tell you

[26:37] that there's a lot to be, you know, looked at with this. I wasn't involved

[26:41] in any project. Never saw any of the plans. never asked anything. Board never

[26:45] asked any opinions. So, I mean, I can't, but I can tell you that this bin numbers

[26:50] here, I realize he has his take, but if you're going to use these bid numbers

[26:54] here, I would analyze the bid numbers where you're going to get caught.

[26:58] » What do you mean? >> All these bid numbers are used to charge

[27:01] you any actors that come as change orders as well.

[27:07] » Okay. So when you use your when you use your unit items, if there's a change

[27:11] order halfway through, these are the items that you're g these are the prices

[27:15] that you're going to pay. These are also the prices you're going

[27:18] to pay when you ask for additional. So Rufus, to your point, if I'm going to

[27:22] here and I have a contractor that bids a penny, then I guess I'd be having him

[27:26] ditch all the lintro, [laughter] >> right?

[27:29] » I'm dead serious. >> Yeah.

[27:32] » Because these these are the formal within the scope. You know what I'm

[27:34] saying? So, if you're going to have them come back or if you see something

[27:37] [clears throat] that develops in the project that needs to go or they're

[27:40] going to charge you a change order associated with it, those are the unit

[27:43] prices that you should be paying associated with that. Now, I I

[27:47] personally would draw I mean there there are some things in here that that I

[27:51] would I would personally be like, well, wait a minute a second. I know that from

[27:56] our review of doing this internally, there was a lot of discrepancy in the

[28:00] conference >> because there are some people here that

[28:03] don't understand or did not review the geotech report in full

[28:08] » and there is going to be some serious questions that come as a result of that

[28:11] geotech because the geotech was very very specific to the soil conditions on

[28:15] where they were and if they don't acknowledge that and they come back and

[28:19] hit you with a change order, you could be looking at some substantial changes.

[28:22] So these guys need to really do some due diligence that they understand that

[28:26] because it was very very very clear that some sort of reinforced

[28:33] um sheep pile or something for your geotech especially in the footings was

[28:37] required as a result of the soil conditions there and I know that we got

[28:42] a lot of questions about that particular question. So I would draw some some

[28:47] severe consideration to those particular line items there. I think there's line

[28:52] items in here that we could do much cheaper. Um, quite frankly, under your

[28:57] maintenance stuff. I mean, I I wouldn't pay I wouldn't pay um $1,200 to get rid

[29:03] of a Drew. So, you know, there are some things in

[29:07] here that I think that we can prep for that would save you some money overall

[29:11] before you get there. Um, that would kind of help.

[29:15] CPM currently is doing a bridge down in Bristol. They're just they're the ones

[29:19] on the lower round pond road. Okay. They're very very reputable company.

[29:23] They do a good job. Wyman Simpsons top-notch. Tbeck Scott out of um stock

[29:28] constructions out of loose in the Auburn area. So we don't see them a lot down

[29:30] here, but they've done some pretty considerable size projects. They're kind

[29:34] of new to the bridge construction world, but I don't think any of these guys are

[29:38] going to get hurt by any of them as far as their ability to pull off the work. I

[29:42] know there was a lot of concern about the timing of the year. To Ben's point

[29:46] about the concrete, I would be very very cautious to make sure that they have

[29:51] definitely included all of the heating and that they're not going to come back

[29:54] at you because there's a fair amount of work associated with keeping that

[29:58] concrete right um through the winter through the winter months and that's

[30:02] that's a large part of it. >> The other thing is I don't do you have

[30:07] oversight bid in this? It's part of

[30:11] » we are we are under contract freight. >> So that's an addition to this.

[30:17] » Do you know what that what's the cost for that or or what's the scope

[30:21] associated with it? Do you know? >> I'm estimating that um we probably have

[30:26] close to $400,000 of additional expenses tied to all the design work that's been

[30:31] done to date as well as the as well as that. So if you let's

[30:38] for conversation's sake just take the 1.2 and tack on another 400,000.

[30:45] » That's I think what this project is ultimately going to tell us and we will

[30:50] assuming mitigation comes in through FEMA. That'll put us up to uh 90% of

[30:56] that. So we would be on the hook for 140,000

[31:01] I'm sorry 160,000.

[31:05] It's my today's estimate.

[31:11] Now if there are change orders that come in related to this drives up part of the

[31:16] project costs but if the approved

[31:20] replacing kind plus mitigation from FEMA is what I think it will be at the 1.8 a

[31:27] be okay.

[31:31] Anything above that that becomes a risk. >> So the other consideration that you have

[31:38] is this going to be over the winter. We're going to close the road down. I'm

[31:41] assuming what are we going to do about plowing

[31:46] » where you can turn around? >> How are we going to Yeah. How are we

[31:49] going to forecast that where that interfaces comes through? The other

[31:54] issue is rather we we can come back through Edgecom obviously. Um but

[32:02] it's different for sure. Um for those people that are living on that side. Um

[32:09] » so the roads closed down for how long?

[32:14] » It's got to be at least >> length of the project

[32:16] » at least. >> Yeah. It's um pretty much October. I

[32:21] mean essentially when the contractor gets started presumably will be October

[32:26] time frame or late September. Um and then uh due to the paving operations we

[32:34] said July is when they needed to reopen. So

[32:41] » yeah. So that's that's a good question. >> Yes. Yeah. are.

[32:45] » Yeah,

[32:50] » there's no way around it, too. There's no way to get a temporary bypass for

[32:53] there. You have to close this road. There's no way about it,

[32:56] » right? Yeah. >> The um and your cost would be

[33:00] substantially more if you did something like that. So, it's it's in your best

[33:03] interest to keep it that way and just make it make it work around it for those

[33:07] that live there. You know, it's it's the only way to do it.

[33:12] Um Carl, is it fair to ask that in um your experience with say the two lower

[33:19] bits on this that um they're typically on the low end of the competitive scale

[33:25] or is that >> um

[33:29] » that that's a hard so um there are a lot of factors that that go into that that

[33:38] are known best among the contracting

[33:41] community. Um, how how bad do they want the project? Um, and there are there are

[33:48] just there are a number of factors that go into that. Um,

[33:53] so sometime Yeah. Um, >> you see them all over.

[33:58] » They're all over. Yeah. I I don't Yeah. Yep. So, so that'll that'll come in

[34:04] cycles as to what and there there are any number of factors that come into

[34:09] come into that. Yes. Yeah. >> One of the problems that we're facing

[34:13] with making the decision is the fact that this will be the third time we're

[34:17] replacing this in less than 20 years. And to reduce the decision to a bottom

[34:27] dollar figure uh has not worked in the past.

[34:35] » Twice it hasn't worked in the past. So I'm

[34:41] uh I mean I'm struggling to find something else to latch on to not being

[34:46] in the trade myself that would give me the confidence to make the decision such

[34:50] that it's not going to we're not going to be doing this again another five 10

[34:55] years >> that's important

[34:59] those two projects >> we well yeah

[35:03] I get that but both times we were assured that

[35:09] both times we were assured that everything had been taken to into

[35:12] account. This was the permanent fix. We'd never have to do it again.

[35:15] » Yeah. >> Um so, you know, all things being equal,

[35:19] what I'm looking for is some bit of insight other than a number that would

[35:25] tell us this is the way to go. And I don't really um take the view that you

[35:33] know the old sort of conventional wisdom which I don't agree with anymore of you

[35:36] know throw out the low and the high bid choose someone in the middle that that

[35:40] doesn't work for me. >> I want to base it something on on

[35:43] something more rational than that. >> So um I guess put you on the spot but

[35:49] like you know what I'm looking for. >> I mean I I can I can appreciate that.

[35:53] » Yeah. Um that is quite frankly why we were hired to do all of the uh

[36:01] preliminary analysis that we did to say to to find the right solution. And part

[36:08] of it is a um part of it is a change in conditions, right? That uh there used to

[36:15] be a lake just just downstream of this with a certain set of hydraulic

[36:21] conditions, right? that feature changes and now that changes the the situation

[36:29] at at at this site here. And so um and so yeah, we we had um our

[36:38] best hydraulic engineer uh looking at this. He's widely recognized uh across

[36:44] the state and across New England for for his work in this field to ensure that

[36:49] that we have the right solution here. Um and so uh and so I I will say when we

[36:57] when we entered into this whole process that very point had us pretty much in

[37:04] the same situation. This has happened twice. This shouldn't happen again. And

[37:08] so and so the entire design was based on that.

[37:13] » Uh at the end of the day, it comes uh it comes down to to the contractor's

[37:19] ability to execute the work as we have laid out in the contract. Um and and I

[37:25] would say uh I I would say that we have a good uh I mean we've pretty much have

[37:32] a wealth of contractors here um to who are competent to do the work. And I

[37:37] would say, you know, I mean, just just as I would agree exactly as as Seth laid

[37:43] out, uh, all these contractors are highly competent to do so. Um, and and

[37:50] so so yeah, >> two questions about that. Yeah. The the

[37:53] first one is, you know, the first time the bridge, and unfortunately I've been

[37:57] on this board long enough to have survived through all of this.

[38:01] Um the first one when it went in um they hadn't accounted for the proper amount

[38:06] of hydraology like you spoke about uh and it washed out because of flooding

[38:11] from the lake or pond or whatever you call it. No, this time it washed out

[38:16] from the other side, the upland side. And um so what I hear you saying is your

[38:25] hydraology expert has taken all of that into account.

[38:29] That that report was done for this board prior to you you coming back on.

[38:33] » There is a full report that shows this board met with BHB staff and reviewed it

[38:39] to make the decision that the bridge was the next best option to solve this

[38:43] problem. >> So not worried about the design. It's

[38:46] more about just picking a firm to >> um and so that that takes me to my next

[38:51] question which is sorry >> I guess so frame your mind in a little

[38:55] bit different viewpoint. Okay. the engineers. We've all heard this, right?

[39:01] And nobody has seen the water come over that bridge like we've seen it. We've

[39:04] I've seen the water come up over the top of that bridge. There's no hydrarology

[39:08] report that shows that that is really going to be possible. But when we get 6

[39:12] and 12 ines in 45 minutes, >> right, which was supposed to be 100year,

[39:16] never going to happen, right? And we saw it.

[39:19] » So I completely get you. But nobody has designed this at all to be 7 and 1/2 ft

[39:25] below the elevation of the existing stream bed with your footer.

[39:31] And that's where this is going. >> Okay. So, we're we're we're pinning this

[39:36] all the way down underneath that. So, no matter how much flushing you're going to

[39:39] go, the only reason that this box call failed was just because it got

[39:43] underneath the footer, which in part was because we didn't have a lot of

[39:46] oversight over there when that was put in. because if it was installed a little

[39:50] bit differently, that shouldn't have happened. This time you got oversight

[39:54] and you got a different spec. And on top of that, the biggest difference between

[39:58] this and anything else that we've done is that the different the stream widths

[40:02] have changed. He's designed this one to 1.2. So before where they were able to

[40:07] get away with something that's a little bit tighter, now we've taken that span

[40:10] and not only are are we widening up, but the volume of that is increased

[40:15] dramatically. So we shouldn't get that flush. Well, the elevation increase

[40:19] substantially as well. >> Correct. If we get something that washes

[40:22] out and undermines the footer on this, then we've got a much bigger problems

[40:26] because we're going substantially greater than what we're going to block.

[40:29] The other side is if you look at the footings that they have proposed for

[40:32] this compared to what we have for existing footing.

[40:35] » Mhm. >> Uh I mean night and day difference. I

[40:39] mean you've got feet worth of backside on your footings coming back that the

[40:43] walls are resting on. Your wing walls are holding this in. So, we're looking

[40:47] at a design that we've never seen before over there that would I mean, I have no

[40:52] doubt that this will take some some water. You should feel very comfortable

[40:55] that where we're going with this is something that we don't have anything

[40:59] like this. The bridge out on on um Saltron Neck Road is is even a different

[41:04] design cuz that's microl beams that are driven in pile that are driven in and

[41:08] they're capped and put on the top. So, this design is of a completely different

[41:12] design than even that one out there. And you see what that one takes from

[41:16] movement with the tides in and out every day. And we've had very little problems

[41:20] with the settling on that outside. This this will take it all day long without a

[41:24] doubt. No problem. >> Cool.

[41:27] [clears throat] Wrong side. So, um, do you have a recommendation?

[41:33] I >> mean, uh, again, like like I've said,

[41:37] um, I I trust I trust all these contractors. Um, I I I do I do recommend

[41:43] the low CPM. Um,

[41:47] so um I I think I think you'll get uh just as good of a quality of product

[41:55] with with any of the contractors. So, um I mean I got um we got to keep in

[42:03] mind too we hired a reputable >> well respected firm and they spend a lot

[42:09] of money on their contract documents. So um you know at the end of the day it's

[42:15] like any other contract it's you know all the geological

[42:20] information is in the is in the bid documents. It's all there. Um, if

[42:24] there's any unforeseen, I don't know. I mean,

[42:29] Carl, what would be like what would be an unforeseen in this situation? Is

[42:34] there any way to stop it? >> Oh, um,

[42:39] so there's always risk when you're dealing with bedrock.

[42:44] Um, you you you take borings, you do your

[42:49] best, you know. Um, you you hire a good geotechnical engineer who knows the lay

[42:55] of the land in general, who's seen it before. Um, but there's always risk when

[43:01] when you're when you're on bedrock. That's just the way it is. Um, and you

[43:05] got two points, right? Two little holes in the ground. Well, you know what?

[43:10] What's it doing, right? So, we do our best to

[43:16] reasonably and conservatively estimate what what are you what are you getting

[43:21] into there? Um, and sometimes it works out for the better. Sometimes it's

[43:27] sometimes it's kind of painful. Um, in this case

[43:31] uh because of the bedrock outcroppings uh that that were that are visible,

[43:38] there's less I dare say. And of course, I I even hate to say say this, but

[43:43] there's less risk because you can actually you can go out there and just

[43:47] kind of see where it is. Now, does that mean that in the middle of it in some

[43:52] special place it doesn't dip way down 20 ft? I nobody nobody knows. But but but

[43:59] it it's it's um yeah, so so that that I would say is one

[44:06] of the biggest risks. Um um

[44:16] think think through the uh elements of the project here because

[44:21] um you know what one of the uh

[44:28] so

[44:32] one of the questions that came up at the pre-bid meeting was tariffs.

[44:39] Um so

[44:43] technically that is a risk um

[44:49] uh that you know that the contractor can only go off of

[44:54] within reason uh today's steel prices. Um,

[45:01] so yeah, that that is and I won't venture

[45:08] I wouldn't dare venture to tell how large or small a risk that is, but it is

[45:12] a risk. Um, so

[45:20] » but there was vendors that bid from the country in country on every item on

[45:23] this. I can tell you that 100%. >> Yes, that's right. So if somebody comes

[45:27] to you and says that they want more money because of a tariff, it's because

[45:32] they took their risk at that price and then rolling that cost over to you

[45:36] » because there was a steadfast number given to them from in country first.

[45:40] Um, so one of my I guess one of my concerns with CPM a little bit to Seth's

[45:46] previous point about change orders and such. We don't know what their

[45:52] um what their pricing is like for straight excavator time or labor or that

[45:58] sort of thing. You know, everybody else we know Wyman and Simpson it's going to

[46:02] be $150 an hour for allpurpose excavation or it's going to be$130 or

[46:06] 230 or you know there's that's all listed. I don't believe that if we had a

[46:15] change order they would keep their one cent per hour pricing on excavation.

[46:23] Well, so the the specification is based on that the basis of payment is on the

[46:32] work performed. >> Okay.

[46:34] » Not how do you perform it? >> Okay.

[46:38] » So it's on them. >> Correct. That that's that's how they

[46:45] that that's how they put that in there. So,

[46:49] » but if we do end up with a change order, how do we know

[46:55] what that price is? I guess I just I'm I'm confused as to how if

[47:02] I mean I know we have a we have a a great RP like we know what we want, but

[47:07] if something changes, say the bedrock is 20 ft lower than expected, how do we

[47:12] know what that >> So, because so so that's a good example.

[47:18] Um, so because that's a cubic yard item, right? Someone can go out into

[47:26] the real world on on site and estimate

[47:31] how much material have you removed, how much bedrock,

[47:35] » right? >> And the contractor could say, "Well, I

[47:39] pick a number. I did I I actually pulled out a thousand yards." But Seth can go

[47:43] over there and be like, "I'm going to take this measurement and this

[47:46] measurement." It's not 1,000 yards. It's 250 yards. That that's like that's the

[47:53] basis of basis of payment. >> Okay.

[47:56] » Is that is that someone is able to in the units where there are where there

[48:03] are not lump sum items that that someone is able that someone physically

[48:09] measures that quantity. Um and however they however they got

[48:16] that quantity out is is uh is is up to them. means and methods in the lump sum

[48:23] items that is that the LS that is purely has the work been performed

[48:32] and they get paid uh on on that basis of either has it been done again it depends

[48:39] on the item but it's all it's all in the main DOT spec book um has has that work

[48:45] been performed or has this work been 50% performed

[48:50] or And so we'll pay 50% at this time. Uh again, that that is all in the nuances

[48:58] of of the specbook, but it it is it is observable

[49:03] based on has been done, not not how is it done.

[49:07] » It's 110% bid. >> Yeah.

[49:11] » Yeah. 110%. That That's right. >> Fair enough.

[49:14] » That's right. >> Yeah. That's all it is. Because they

[49:17] could get burned on other things. 100%. the resident says, "Hey, I really want

[49:21] you to go over there and move that rock. It's not in the bid and whatever. I'll

[49:25] pay you an hour worth of excavator time, they're going to get paid a penny,

[49:29] » right?" >> So, you know, we have we done this

[49:33] before? We have absolutely done this before because when you look at all this

[49:36] and they put in here and they have cones, drums, and type three barricades,

[49:40] right? Those are all penny because how many cones are you really going to use

[49:43] on a road closure? >> Right.

[49:45] » Two. >> It's It's a way to get your It's Right.

[49:48] Exactly. It's a way to get your number down. That's all that it is to compare

[49:52] it. Whereas, if a resident goes and then goes to Wyman Simpson says, "Hey, so and

[49:56] so is complaining up the street. I want you to put out 15 cones to help slow

[50:00] traffic down by their driveway because we got to compete. It's going to cost

[50:04] you $20 times 15." >> Except it doesn't just go from owner to

[50:12] contractor, right? >> Yeah. Right. Exactly. That's right. It

[50:15] goes to goes to you. Yeah. >> And then it goes to town manager and

[50:19] then they get a a proposal request from the HP to the contractor. How much is

[50:25] going to cost the deal's work? >> The project resident really should have

[50:29] control over that budget and be correct in that under the guidance of whatever

[50:32] you guys would give for a contingency. That's the other thing that you should

[50:35] have in here. I don't know what you're planning on for a contingency, but I'm

[50:39] sure Kevin probably has a number in mind, but what do you guys have roughly

[50:42] for a contingency for this? But I don't think we've gotten there yet.

[50:48] » 15%. Is that what we >> That's That's what we were That's what

[50:51] we were talking about. >> 15%.

[50:53] » 15. That's right. >> So about in this case, 1200 200. Okay.

[50:58] » No, >> that seems

[51:01] generous. Is that

[51:03] » No, I don't I don't do roads, but this >> we'll say no.

[51:06] » I I would say that's all all >> Yeah. Yeah. That's right.

[51:13] So to address what Seth said earlier, who's

[51:18] I didn't read the bid specs. I don't know anything about construction, but is

[51:23] does somebody check to see or is it written out somewhere like how they're

[51:28] supposed to keep the concrete warm in the middle of winter if it's going to be

[51:32] a high of five degrees that >> that is all that is all in

[51:36] specification. It is okay. It it is. Yes, it is. DHB will have an on-site

[51:42] person. >> Okay.

[51:43] » We'll have a person who visits and make sure that things are being performed. We

[51:49] we p we work with the contractor to understand their schedule whi when

[51:55] they're going to be doing things and and um yeah we're we we were not uh given

[52:03] the nature of this project we were not intending to have someone permanently on

[52:09] site for the entire duration of the project. I don't think that would be the

[52:12] best best use of time and money but uh we work with the contractor to see okay

[52:18] when are you doing what and then we will plan accordingly to to ensure the

[52:24] quality of the of the work. >> Generally that comes down to kind of

[52:29] what once a week once every other >> yeah I think I think we budgeted on once

[52:33] a week. >> Okay.

[52:34] » Yeah. Yep.

[52:39] it would not be it would not be any more infrequent than once every

[52:46] other week. Um but but again that that also that's

[52:52] not necessarily going to be a consistent some some tasks will require more time

[52:58] and some will some will require less to ensure quality control. Yeah. Yeah. How

[53:05] when this when you bid this out is that all testing on the owner the compaction

[53:13] » QAQC testing is it all based on is the owner?

[53:17] » That's a great that's a great question. I I I'd have to get back on on that.

[53:24] No. So you build a contingency, you have that little bit of money. So it's not

[53:28] the end of the world either way. But just know, so typically, I say

[53:32] typically, but most DOT work, they come out and they'll do all your gradation

[53:36] testing, all your compaction testing, all your slum concrete testing. They'll

[53:40] come out, certify your steel. They'll come out and look at all your uh um um

[53:47] elastic for your uh bridge joints and all that

[53:51] stuff. >> DOT

[53:52] » DOT will, but that's all there cost. So a lot of times these jobs are typically

[53:56] the owner bornes the cost of the QAQC testing when they come there to make

[54:01] sure because it's there to protect you. Therefore if you get a failing result

[54:06] you can then go back on the contractor and say hey look this is the deal. So if

[54:10] you have I don't know if your contingency covers

[54:14] what portion of that covers your testing or not but just know that some of that

[54:18] may pull away from that so that it may lower your contingency overall. But I

[54:23] would highly highly recommend that you have which I'm sure these guys these

[54:26] guys do a pretty good job of that that they have built in there. But the more

[54:30] that you pull that it's going to give you some good information to have

[54:34] » which just comes into coordination with timing on everything to make sure that

[54:37] somebody's there to do that. >> Carl, your your contract BHP doesn't do

[54:43] on site testing. Is that third? >> We we do not. That would be third party

[54:48] testing. It's like a SW pole or somebody like

[54:52] that comes out does all that stuff. >> That's right. So um what what are we

[54:58] like what would be prudent like what's a good what would you want to do for

[55:02] testing this I mean concrete I think is obvious right

[55:07] test >> all all of these materials to a certain

[55:10] degree will have some degree of testing so something less than one is like

[55:14] you're not going to probably test your mulch it all depends on how picky you're

[55:16] going to get but in general scope your hot tops your gravels your concrete your

[55:21] metal your concrete Um, uh, I'm just trying to think of what

[55:27] else you'll have. Those are your probably your biggest ticket items that

[55:31] you'll have. Um, you're going to want to see, quite frankly, you're going to want

[55:35] to see some reports on your your sheet piling because they're going to want to

[55:40] put a submitting that's got a stamp PE in case somebody gets killed behind

[55:44] sheep pile that's there that you know that they've got to stamp because you're

[55:47] deep in the ground. There's some portions of this that are

[55:52] legit. like you got to really be kind of squared away. So, um you're going to

[55:56] want to kind of see that. Um all these submitts will come back and get approved

[56:00] by VHP anyways. So, every single line item that you have down through here, we

[56:05] have a submitt that would go there. They're going to review it and approve

[56:08] it and send it back to the contractor for use. If they see something that they

[56:12] don't like, they'll reject it and they'll say, "Hey, you got to do XYZ in

[56:16] order to comply with the specification." To your point, every single one of these

[56:20] line items has at least a paragraph. if not more that specifically outlines

[56:25] exactly what it is and every technical aspect associated with it. So that

[56:29] submitt has to address all that. These guys are paid to review that and then

[56:33] give a ruling back. You'll never see it, but it's either approved or not approved

[56:37] or approved with comments. >> That's right.

[56:41] » Good. >> So that's a process. the real problem is

[56:46] comes and he's here for a week that I see the biggest gap is that and not that

[56:51] anybody is going to do that. We're no different, right?

[56:54] But the over the reason that the DOT pricing

[56:59] is what DOT pricing is is because there's a resident or an inspector 247

[57:04] there associated with that job. This case we're not going to have quite so

[57:09] much that flexibility. So it's really important wherever you decide to go that

[57:15] you really feel comfortable with because they need to do that. You guys see me on

[57:19] your projects. Every single project I am there. I am hounding the guides. You got

[57:24] to have compaction. You got to do this. I want to see my mix design. Whatever it

[57:27] is, right? So whoever you pick, you just need to make sure that you're as

[57:32] comfortable with them doing that when they're not here

[57:36] » as possible. That's really where it comes down to where you're going to get

[57:39] your quality because >> how do we judge that?

[57:44] » You go by reputation. And to his point, you know, you're going to be fine with

[57:47] any of the three lowest biders. I'm not going to just speak to the top ones just

[57:51] because of budget. They would do just as well, I'm sure, but you're going to be

[57:54] fine with any of the three lowest biders. Those guys are going to do those

[57:58] guys are going to do good work. Um, you know, that they're they're pretty

[58:02] reputable. They're they've been around for a long time. They're all local. you

[58:06] know, W Simpsons just up in Richmond. They're not very far away. CPM again is

[58:10] not very far and tuck is at Turner. >> I think that's right. Yeah. Yep.

[58:16] » Um and they used to do a lot of utility stuff and they recently kind of got into

[58:19] bridges and stuff. They're they're around. You know, you're not going to be

[58:22] you're not going to be um out in left field with any of them. I from my

[58:29] perspective to help you in this decision a little bit. We have supplied numbers

[58:34] to all five of them for all of the earth work and all the paving and stuff. I

[58:40] don't know who carried us. I can use I can see the unit pricing here. Um they

[58:44] all seem to have carried our numbers. I don't I can't speak to that 100%. But

[58:49] for any numbers that we will be there in any you know I'll be there on site as

[58:54] well. We go you know wearing both hats to try to help in both. So, you'll

[58:58] actually give them some work on >> hopefully. I mean, we'll we'll see. You

[59:02] know, it depends. They they can choose not to use us as well, but

[59:06] » um if that's the case, then that helps. But we're doing all the earth work right

[59:09] now for CPM in Bristol and all the pavement.

[59:15] » So, it um and I don't know if they again I don't know for sure, but Wyman is

[59:19] something is very is very similar in that nature as well that a lot of those

[59:23] guys do that. So when you have do this cost evaluation and you've determined

[59:28] who that's really what you want to get who you want to get in bed with who you

[59:31] want to partner with is who you're going to feel comfortable with doing that you

[59:34] know when somebody is not there and I think you'll be fine with any of them. I

[59:39] just my only concern for you guys is to worry about the things that

[59:45] everything does have a spec. We had a full-blown spec like this. We got into a

[59:48] box culvert that was very similar on 32. with the geotech report was not quite as

[59:53] tight. And then $480,000 later, we're driving sheet piling.

[1:00:01] » Okay. So, even though there is spec, I just want you to be aware that there are

[1:00:05] things that just because it says this, if there's field conditions dictate

[1:00:09] otherwise, it might shift something somewhere somehow. That contingency goes

[1:00:14] very, very quick. So, just be prepared. And the these unit cost numbers are

[1:00:19] where these guys are going to base a lot of their stuff off of. That's like their

[1:00:23] their base kind of like where we want to go.

[1:00:27] » Of course, change orders after the fact are going to cost you money all the way.

[1:00:30] It's just the way it is.

[1:00:34] » Hate spending money. >> I don't mind spending money.

[1:00:38] » I hate it. >> No, I don't mind spending money at all.

[1:00:41] It's it's >> We have

[1:00:44] » Yeah. uh in recent years adopted the attitude that um we're going to spend

[1:00:51] money smartly >> that we're going to seek the best

[1:00:55] quality and that's a consideration before cost.

[1:00:59] Um and I don't want to, you know, I don't want to throw that all

[1:01:04] away, but what I'm hearing from sort of everybody is

[1:01:10] since I don't know what I'm talking about, it's just I got to trust you

[1:01:13] guys. But that's what we're, you know, you

[1:01:18] only know so much. That's why everybody always hires a consultant, no matter

[1:01:22] what it is.

[1:01:30] » What do we need? >> Well, we need to pick somebody.

[1:01:34] » That's what our >> electric contractor. If you're not ready

[1:01:36] to do that tonight, >> potentially

[1:01:40] » we need to get on this because >> yesing

[1:01:44] » what I I mean I'll just I think what we should do is pick somebody on this sheet

[1:01:50] and then the next meeting I think as you propose we figure out the money

[1:01:58] on this thing that's the that's the next step in this

[1:02:03] but we don't have we don't have a lot of I think if we push this out to the next

[1:02:08] meeting and we'll come back and we're looking at numbers then that meeting not

[1:02:12] only picking somebody then we're talking about funding it as well

[1:02:17] » but that's already September if they're looking at getting started.

[1:02:19] » Yeah. And we've got we've got limitations on on funding too. So this

[1:02:25] has got to get going. >> Well, as we've learned, waiting does not

[1:02:29] make it cheap, >> right? Yeah,

[1:02:31] » in all fairness to everybody when we were looking at ordinance this bigger

[1:02:34] your metal your steel he's he's right tariffs there are companies outside of

[1:02:38] the US that bid this but the stuff inside they need a little bit of lead

[1:02:42] time so the more you do push it back that's the biggest

[1:02:46] » that's right >> all right well I'm prepared to make a

[1:02:51] motion if there's >> well let's let's before I mean so you're

[1:02:58] going to need to make a motion for a select

[1:03:00] But um is there any way we can have a discussion on straw pole or some way to

[1:03:09] » Well, I mean >> the motion

[1:03:12] » the official the official way to do it is make a motion about a contract. If it

[1:03:15] doesn't get seconded, somebody else um if we if I make a motion for a

[1:03:21] contractor and somebody second it, we discuss it, we vote on it, could still

[1:03:25] go down and then we have to make a motion for another contractor.

[1:03:29] I mean, >> that would be the way to approach it.

[1:03:31] » Thank you. >> I mean, I I I get what you're saying,

[1:03:35] but I think we just kind of >> Okay,

[1:03:39] » buckle up. >> Go for it.

[1:03:40] » I will make a motion to select CPM as a contractor for the mill bridge

[1:03:46] replacement and authorize the town manager manager to sign a contract.

[1:03:54] further discussion.

[1:03:59] I mean, they're the obvious little bit like

[1:04:04] » I'm usually not comfortable with little bit. That's that's my holdback is and

[1:04:09] you know again it's like the the question about

[1:04:12] um did they actually take into account what is needed for the copper as they

[1:04:18] are considerably lower you know they are the lowest on that that line item um and

[1:04:27] I don't you know >> but they're in line with what the

[1:04:30] » they are in line with what the engineers so

[1:04:34] » are we comfortable with that are they going to is there going to be some

[1:04:37] unforeseen? >> I mean I'm comfortable with CPM. Um I

[1:04:44] resort I take confidence in you have a tight

[1:04:49] set of compound documents that this project

[1:04:53] unforeseen. So that could happen with any of these guys. I mean not everybody

[1:04:58] knows exactly what what alleges some you know. So, you know, everybody's

[1:05:04] reputable. I think you'll consult who who's got an opinion on this, too.

[1:05:11] » Well, we've got two endorsements, right? People who know what they're talking

[1:05:14] about, >> right?

[1:05:15] » More than we do. >> Yeah.

[1:05:16] » Oh, certainly. >> That's the only reason that I would I

[1:05:19] made the motion that I normally would just throw out the vote.

[1:05:22] » Yeah.

[1:05:29] » Yeah. I think right if the people that we're paying to tell us

[1:05:36] » gotta trust someone right >> you gota trust someone

[1:05:42] » he doesn't look >> no he [laughter]

[1:05:47] » all right any else comments discussion points

[1:05:55] » manager do you have an opinion or you just

[1:05:58] » I think everything that needs to be said has been said about this.

[1:06:01] » Okay. >> I I think the the recommended motion is

[1:06:06] decent one to go with. >> Okay. All right. Let's take a vote. All

[1:06:09] those in favor of CDM. >> Okay. That motion passes by.

[1:06:17] » Um I'm going to follow that up by making another motion to schedule a special

[1:06:20] town meeting for October 13th at the request of the town.

[1:06:24] » May I have request that you move it to the 14th? Is the 13th one? I'll amend my

[1:06:29] motion to the 14th of [clears throat] October. I'll second that.

[1:06:34] » Those in favor.

[1:06:39] Okay. Um >> so that will be on the special town. Uh

[1:06:44] » I'll look to bring some solutions to you next meeting for how we paper this and

[1:06:50] then you'll have a warrant to vote on at second meeting in September so that on

[1:06:55] October 14th we can special town meeting to do that thing so we can have access

[1:07:01] to resources. >> So our select board meeting is also

[1:07:04] moving to the 14th. >> Yes. Yeah. which would have been done

[1:07:09] already as part of what your bylaw said when a holiday falls on a Monday.

[1:07:14] » Right. Right. >> Okay. Um no, thank you.

[1:07:21] » Thank you very much. >> Thank you guys.

[1:07:24] » The next item is item 68 community grant.

[1:07:29] » Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, guys. Thank you, sir.

[1:07:32] » Thanks, Carl. Drive safe. So, I'll just I'll summarize this

[1:07:39] and Kevin did a comment maybe after we do the um the

[1:07:46] Here's the deal. Um this is a grant um with this partnership with town of Alna.

[1:07:53] And what this is going to allow us to do is have some money to trim trees um

[1:08:00] clear clear potential hazard trees or um you know um power outages. Seems that

[1:08:08] might compromise the power lines on town home roads. So, um, this is total of

[1:08:16] $175,000. So, we're seeing some benefit by

[1:08:21] partnering with ALMA. I think it's about six miles of roads in two towns that we

[1:08:28] be looking at um to spread this money over. So, I think it comes down to

[1:08:34] um, you know, best use where priority use probably doesn't address every

[1:08:41] single hazard. I'm not sure, but

[1:08:45] guess we'll see. Anyway, it's a sound like a good deal. Um,

[1:08:51] and that's basically it in a nutshell. So, yeah, I think the um big plus

[1:08:58] advantage is um the $75,000 for town, you know, getting basically another 12

[1:09:06] 15% buying power by

[1:09:15] Can I make a motion to support the manager's letter for the community

[1:09:18] action grant to address electrical grid resilience and vegetative management?

[1:09:23] » Second, but who came up with the name leaf the lights on? I knew you did. I

[1:09:27] knew you did. I had a couple other good ones, but the

[1:09:32] Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission staff

[1:09:35] uh decided that this was >> Did they

[1:09:38] » Well, they had other better ones, but um some of them wouldn't necessarily uh win

[1:09:45] over the grant reviewers. I had uh um

[1:09:53] uh uh branches uh branches out.

[1:09:59] Oh man, I'm sorry. I I can't recall what it was.

[1:10:02] » I read this. Leave the lights on. Hold vegetative management for a more

[1:10:08] resilient grid. And I probably spent two minutes trying to find the hidden

[1:10:12] acronym [laughter]

[1:10:16] » because I was convinced you did it to me.

[1:10:20] » No, wasn't the case. >> I looked at it. First thing came to mind

[1:10:26] was typo. [laughter]

[1:10:29] » Yeah, >> I had uh I had one lots up

[1:10:35] [laughter] >> that didn't go over well. I had m sweetm

[1:10:39] » Oh, >> yeah. See, growner. She's a growner.

[1:10:43] » That's all I was getting from them. >> You've been reading a lot of those

[1:10:46] legislative bulletins. She's She's been doing a great job with making those

[1:10:50] funny fun. >> The only way to get through them

[1:10:52] sometimes, >> right?

[1:10:53] » Yeah. >> Um, sorry. So, Rufus, you made the

[1:10:56] motion. Was there a second? >> Yeah.

[1:10:58] » Sorry, Dad. Okay. So

[1:11:02] further discussion >> just a question of when this would be

[1:11:06] awarded when if we get it. >> Um we know

[1:11:10] » the timeline is sometime in January we would be award we would be awarded it.

[1:11:15] This is a long this is like a 2year thing. First year is about communication

[1:11:21] building and understanding what we're trying to do. Uh the second part of it

[1:11:25] is find and finding then finding um residents who are willing to

[1:11:29] participate. We don't want to make this a force thing. We want to make it a

[1:11:32] voluntary thing. We want to make sure we we're working with CMP to identify the

[1:11:36] areas that go down a lot, but are low priority for them because they affect

[1:11:40] the smallest number of residents. It's like their priority is oh the stretch of

[1:11:45] 4,000 people got hit. We got to fix that. Not necessarily the stretch of 10

[1:11:50] people. >> I know that there's a stretch of about

[1:11:52] 95 residents that get hit pretty often. and and so that that's what we want to

[1:11:58] try to those areas that get hit frequently but are small number we want

[1:12:02] to try to address those and work with those residents to see if they willing

[1:12:06] to participate first. >> So I think it's about it'll end up being

[1:12:10] about three to three and a half miles of road in Newcastle.

[1:12:14] Yeah, that's a great >> great a great one to start.

[1:12:18] » Great one to start. >> Was a particularly appropriate timing

[1:12:21] considering the report that came out um analyzing how many

[1:12:26] power outages per average power outages per customer CMP customers suffer

[1:12:33] » and it's 4 something per year. >> Wow.

[1:12:36] » Yeah. >> Far above the national average.

[1:12:39] » Yeah. Crazy. >> Yeah. Yeah.

[1:12:41] » Wow. >> Like 4.67.

[1:12:43] We are the pine tree state. >> Yes, we are.

[1:12:47] » Um, okay. Any other discussion? Take a vote.

[1:12:51] » All those in favor? >> Motion passes.

[1:12:55] Five zero. And >> thank you all.

[1:12:59] » I look forward to your acronyms or or I'm sorry uh funds [laughter]

[1:13:06] » uh for the marketing material. >> Oh, okay. Literally.

[1:13:10] » Okay. Item 7A, the um FY26 third AP warrant. And this one is for

[1:13:18] $955,000 841

[1:13:22] and 75. So >> that's a big one.

[1:13:25] » It is [clears throat] a big one. County and the um school

[1:13:31] » and ambulance >> numbers.

[1:13:33] » I'll move it. >> Okay. Ben,

[1:13:37] » I'll second it. Taran seconds that discussion.

[1:13:41] » Um just it's of note that this is the first

[1:13:46] year that our county tax assessment has ever broached breached half a million.

[1:13:51] » Wow. >> I think when I started it was in the

[1:13:55] neighborhood of likeund >> something you know like low 109.

[1:14:00] » Yeah. >> I'm I'm curious about the vortex

[1:14:04] binoculars. >> I saw that as well. Don't know what

[1:14:07] » what is. Is that some sort of a heat sensing thing? What's that's

[1:14:11] » fire company? >> Fire company.

[1:14:13] » I think there was multiples. >> There were two.

[1:14:17] » Yeah, they're >> What are they?

[1:14:19] » They're binoculars >> to look at things far away. They're like

[1:14:23] » I know they got put on the >> $500.

[1:14:27] » Couple of the trucks needed binoculars. They're really expensive.

[1:14:31] » They have superpowers. I always buy mine at a pawn shop for

[1:14:35] like >> 30 bucks.

[1:14:37] » Right. Right. >> They they're just going to fall in the

[1:14:40] water anyhow. Oh jeez.

[1:14:44] » Or not to look through scratch lens and stuff.

[1:14:46] » You can do pretty well at pawn shops. >> Because they stole them off the back of

[1:14:51] the fire truck. >> Yes, [laughter] exactly.

[1:14:56] » All right. Um but all in favor of the if you want

[1:15:04] passes by zero I guess. So um that

[1:15:12] is uh leads us to town manager report. So Kevin

[1:15:17] » oh of course I'm not even ready. >> Didn't see it coming.

[1:15:22] » I did not. Apparently I'm supposed to Well, the Dammer's got a fish ladder.

[1:15:28] » Oh, yeah. You want to talk about that one while I pull it up?

[1:15:31] » They got their replant their plans for 2025 out.

[1:15:35] » That's right. And you have a link to their repair plans. And they're like

[1:15:39] part of the reason it's in front of you now is just wanting you to be aware of

[1:15:42] it. They are in the ground, I think, next week. Um last four days of August.

[1:15:49] So, >> yeah. So, this week and ended next week.

[1:15:53] » Generally repairing Some of the pools, the little whatever

[1:15:59] you call it, stone that the fish go over to get to the next pool, they need to

[1:16:03] replace most all of those eventually. >> Yeah, the the pieces of stone make it

[1:16:09] harder for them to get up. So, it's a nice

[1:16:12] » slab is actually the better solution. So, they are working place.

[1:16:16] » I know the bottom bottom two pole pools are their focus, one of their big

[1:16:20] focuses this time. So the plan for this year is still

[1:16:25] masonry work. I know there was other things quoted out there

[1:16:29] equipment and stuff like that, but it's just the written.

[1:16:32] » Yeah, >> that's still part of the conversation,

[1:16:35] but it wouldn't be a be done till next year anyway. It's not enough time to

[1:16:38] have engineering work done and per >> I hope to have that for you guys to

[1:16:44] discuss for next >> for next. Yeah. Next.

[1:16:51] Sometime in the wintertime before we have to find contractors to do the work.

[1:16:57] Another item we received. I had a submitted a request to receive some

[1:17:01] equipment through the main broadband. We have a coastal main regional

[1:17:07] broadband organization um that had some funding through the state for additional

[1:17:13] um resources. Uh we received an owl uh along not just I don't not housing a

[1:17:20] bird in the office or anything. It's a it's a um meeting device that can look

[1:17:26] at has a camera multiple cameras can look around 360. Uh my intent was to say

[1:17:32] how do I make sure I record some of the committee meetings that are happening.

[1:17:36] We were using it a bunchcotta received two copy two of those. We used it for

[1:17:41] our public works working group. It's a pretty great little product. Has uh like

[1:17:47] eight megap eight microphones pointed so it collects everything around the room.

[1:17:52] » No, not a megaphone. A microphone. >> Uh

[1:17:56] » eight megapones would be fun, but >> it would be. But um I think it'll be

[1:18:00] useful for meetings off site, other even staff meetings we want to record. So

[1:18:07] » what's it record to right onto the laptop?

[1:18:09] » I can record to the lap. It can record to I can make YouTube. We have a YouTube

[1:18:14] channel. Put them to our YouTube channel. Um, and make those accessible

[1:18:17] through our website. >> Great.

[1:18:19] » Is that would it go to the YouTube channel?

[1:18:24] Is it after the meeting concludes like as a recording or is it like as as it

[1:18:29] happens live? >> Either way, I'm I'd prefer to record it

[1:18:33] and then put it up later. Um, just given the complexity of some of that stuff.

[1:18:38] But >> well, the mouth ban, you know, you might

[1:18:40] want to watch. You really do. links.

[1:18:45] » Does it automatically be? >> No, that's why I have why I wouldn't

[1:18:48] want to record it, post it later. >> Challenge.

[1:18:51] » I do not >> do not need FCC bringing down my name.

[1:18:56] » All right, cool. >> Um, so that's an exciting thing. Um, we

[1:18:58] are they do have some additional funds, so I'm approaching uh some additional

[1:19:03] equipment for the office. >> Uh, I'll take free equipment if I can

[1:19:08] get it. uh housing infrastructure project. I a

[1:19:13] couple weeks ago or last month I asked or I asked you for support for that

[1:19:17] letter of intent. Our town has been chosen for part of that project. So

[1:19:20] great Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission will be moving forward with

[1:19:23] their RFP process to fire an hire an engineer, not fire one, hire an engineer

[1:19:28] um to look at some expansions of sewer and water in part of Newcastle

[1:19:33] potentially at least the costs and and trying to figure out how to finance it.

[1:19:38] Do they have great salt bay sanctuary district looped into

[1:19:42] » they're involved? Yes. Yep. And then our working group for the

[1:19:47] public works met last Thursday. Uh we have uh another meeting coming up on

[1:19:53] September 15th. Uh we hope to have then a more formal conversation with the full

[1:19:59] board at your following meeting. So, in addition to setting a warrant, we also

[1:20:04] be talking about uh what we've what we've come up with for your

[1:20:08] consideration. Uh from there, we'll do some more public outreach efforts. But

[1:20:12] we have been recording these meetings. The agendas, the minutes, the documents

[1:20:17] we've been creating are all available on the website through the links on here if

[1:20:21] you're interested in starting to dig into it a little bit, but the meat of it

[1:20:25] will come to you at that second meeting in September. And then uh finally, the

[1:20:29] town logo art contest is still going on. Still looking for uh additional um

[1:20:35] suggestions. We've got a couple. I'm not going to delve into those right now, but

[1:20:38] there if anybody's interested, still the deadline is Thursday this week.

[1:20:43] » That's what I have.

[1:20:47] Um

[1:21:03] Okay. Um, that's all folks. So, uh, without, um,

[1:21:09] exception, uh, select work meeting and earned at 8:22 p.m.

[1:21:16] Great. Thank you.

Newcastle Select Board - August 25, 2025

Transcript