LEWISTON — A pair of Public Works projects got the nod from city councilors Tuesday night, despite being turned down by the Finance Committee.

Councilors approved a change order for a storm-sewer separation project on the White and Nichol streets neighborhood and a heating system and boiler project for Adams Avenue.

Councilor Stephen Morgan said he was concerned that overriding the Finance Committee’s decisions would discourage its members and other volunteers.

“We ask people to volunteer on the Planning Board and finance and appeals committees,” Morgan said. “They volunteer their time, and I don’t have time to review all the stuff that they do.”

Councilor Larry Poulin, a member of the Finance Committee, said the group’s objection to the White and Nichols streets change had to do with how it would be funded. Staff originally planned to include the work in a bond package, but finally agreed to use money originally intended for another project: ongoing repairs to a storm sewer leading from the Pepperell Mill under Lisbon Street.

“But that’s pretty well-stabilized at this point,” Public Works Director David Jones said. The city had $180,000 in storm-sewer utility funds devoted to that area but agreed to transfer $64,000 to pay for the change at White and Nichols street.

Jones said sewer lines in that project all met at a common point but had to be relocated to a lower grade. Poulin and the other councilors approved the change unanimously.

The Finance Committee objected to the Public Works heat and boiler work because only one company, Nason Mechanical Systems, submitted a bid and it was nearly over budget. The budget for the project was set at $500,000 but Nason’s bid came in at $479,471, plus administration and fees.

Staff later worked with Nason, agreeing to do some work in-house, and brought the final project cost down to $446,000, with administration and fees included.

“The Finance Committee was looking at the idea that perhaps this is not the right time to go out to bid,” Poulin said. “We were looking at potentially delaying it until the spring when potentially more people might bid on the project.”

Poulin said that concern was tempered by the possibility of more than $39,000 in savings this winter by having a more efficient heating system installed in the Public Works buildings.

Councilors agreed to accept the bid, with only Morgan objecting.

“One thing I know about bids and requests for proposals, what you get is what you get,” Councilor John Butler said. “Whether it’s building a school building or anything. If you send out a bid and one person answers it, that person did the due diligence and they should get the bid. It’s pretty much common sense.”

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