FARMINGTON — Selectmen on Tuesday approved spending $2,500 for professional services to help with construction documents and the bidding process for the police department’s three-bay garage.

The estimate from Craig Boone of Bunker and Savage Architects was accepted.

The board recently rejected contractor bids because of inconsistencies and said it wasn’t fair to compare them.

The board and the garage donor have requested an opportunity to review the bid specs created by Boone before it goes out to bid.

The board also awarded a contract for a project at Meetinghouse Park on Front Street. The lowest of four bids received was from Off Road Construction of Minot for $161,326.

It was about $80,000 less than the others. When board members questioned the difference, Town Manager Richard Davis and Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser assured them that they had received “very good” reference checks and were satisfied that the company was dependable.

The project has been scaled back to stay within budget, Davis told the board. The work includes paving and sidewalk work from the park to the Narrow Gauge Cinema entrance instead of the Farmers Union as originally planned.

The work also includes building a retaining wall to reinforce the existing wall at the former Williams Law Office on the corner of Broadway and Front Street. Lowering the sidewalk to street level will make it safer for pedestrians, he said.

The project is funded by a Community Development Block Grant.

Davis expected a meeting with Off Road will take place soon, and construction will start perhaps within the next three weeks or so, he said Wednesday. He estimated the work would continue to the end of September.

In other business, the board moved to bring changes in the town’s zoning ordinance before voters. A date for a special town meeting will be set.

A request to change the zoning areas in West Farmington provides an opportunity for businesses to expand or for future growth without upsetting the village-residential feel, Kaiser told the board.

Kevin and Cindy Madore want to expand their business to include a bakery in the Town Farm Road house next to Madore’s Market in West Farmington but present zoning prevents that.

The current residential zoning would change to a residential light commercial zone. It could provide an opportunity for such redevelopment as the old mill on School Street and a variety of projects that couldn’t take place under residential or village business zones, Kaiser said.

Three West Farmington residents voiced support for the changes during the public hearing. A bakery would bring the community together more, Frank Chin said.

The zone changes set the stage for these types of projects but they would still need to be reviewed by the Planning Board, Kaiser said.

The zone would allow for alternative small businesses and even home-based businesses. It’s a good move, resident Naomi Henderson said.

Other changes, including reducing the zoning board from seven to five members and clarity of wording in the ordinance, will also come before voters during the special town meeting.

[email protected]