BETHEL – Rather than go out to bid for paving needed at Bethel Regional Airport, selectmen at Monday night’s meeting opted 3-1 to waive the competitive process.

Town Manager Scott Cole advised selectmen that bidding is not recommended in order to preserve the value of time spent coordinating the project between the engineer, paving outfit and two hangar owners.

“As hangar development moves forward at the airport, the need for additional pavement to serve these hangars has emerged,” Cole said. “Although private money is likely to comprise most of the funding, the only practical way to coordinate this work is through town control of the project.”

Town officials have been working with Dufresne-Henry engineers and commercial paver Bruce Manzer of Anson to determine a feasible paving and drainage plan. They now have a plan and a quote of between $30,000 and $40,000 from Manzer to do the work.

Cole said the project cost would be included in the Fiscal Year 2004 airport budget as an expenditure, with private money shown as a revenue to the airport.

Selectman Reggie Brown, who in the absence of Chairman Harry Dresser Jr. was acting chairman, said it would be more advantageous to the town to work with Manzer at hand and waive the bidding process. All but Selectmen Al Barth and Jack Cross agreed, although Barth was the lone opponent when the matter was put to a vote. Barth favored putting the project out to bid to be consistent with past town policy.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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