FARMINGTON — A move into new quarters for the Farmington Police Department probably won’t happen till early next year.

Selectmen met again Tuesday with architect Craig Boone of Bunker and Savage Architects. Following a lengthy discussion, the board voted 3-1 to move forward with plans provided by Boone. 

Selectmen Ryan Morgan, Dennis Pike and Chairman Stephan Bunker voted for the motion, while Selectman Andrew Hufnagel opposed it. Selectman Jessica Berry was absent.

The next step is to gather file bids on components of the project by Sept. 13 and general contractor bids by Sept. 29 so that the board can review the bids at their Oct. 11 meeting. The work is expected to extend into January at least and it may be longer before the department can move in.

Boone gave the board an overview of the plans Tuesday. 

Hufnagel called the work an “outstanding job,” but again questioned the intent to hire a general contractor to oversee the whole project rather than breaking it down for local contractors to bid on. He had suggested it at the last meeting with Boone and the board agreeing, he said.

“I wanted to subcontract components. I’d like to see us eliminate a general contractor’s overhead and bid the jobs out in parcels,” Hufnagel said.

He could see the need for a general contractor in a new or larger project but this is just a small project, he said. He proposed hiring one person to oversee the work of the subcontractors.

“I guarantee it will come in cheaper. We break this down into separate bids and we save money,” he said. He proposed the town do more of the work securing the bids to save taxpayers money.

Morgan that could take even more time.

Police Chief Jack Peck said he was willing to wait another month if that’s what if took.

“We’re chomping at the bit to get in there. We were ready to move April 4,” he said.

Donation of the former medical office on Franklin Avenue to the town for a police department was announced by Franklin Memorial Hospital last December. Voters accepted it at the April 3 town meeting.

Other board members felt bids from local contractors could be secured within the proposed plan. Morgan said he knew of three local contractors waiting to bid on the project.

“Just get the word out there as much as possible so local contractors will file bids,” Boone said.

Although he had tried to break the project down for the bid process some, he didn’t feel it could be broken down as much as Hufnagel wanted.

In response to a motion to put out three separate bids, a mechanical, an electrical and a roofing and siding together, Hufnagel felt the project didn’t need to be rushed.

“The building is not going anywhere so I don’t see the rush. We have an opportunity to save money here,” he said.

Pike suggested the board hire the architect to look out for the town’s best interest and they should trust him.

The board then voted to move ahead with the architect’s proposal.

[email protected]