NEW GLOUCESTER — Selectmen on Monday decided to take no action on rescinding last November’s decision to award the Public Works facility bid to Ganneston Construction Corp. of Augusta, and instead agreed to continue negotiations on the final project cost.

Last November, the board selected Ganneston Construction from four companies as the design building contractor for the project.

The proposed new facility, yet to be approved by voters, would be built at a 25-acre parcel at 611 Lewiston Road, where the town’s fire station is sited.

A subcommittee of the Public Works Design Committee appointed by the board was authorized to negotiate with the contractor with the goal of arriving at a final project cost below $4 million. 

The group was unable to reduce the final cost to a figure below $4 million while keeping the basic program for the facility.

Stacey Morrison, owner and CEO of Ganneston, addressed the board. “We want to continue this route,” she said.

Ganneston’s current bid totals $4.5 million; that includes a $300,000 contingency fund or $4.2 million with no contingency.

“If the (town’s) budget originally (came) in at $4 million (for the) project, we would meet your requirements,” Morrison said. “My architects and engineers invested tens of thousands of dollars in this project.”

“We can’t go for additional design money,” said Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Steve Libby, who chairs the Public Works Design Committee of eight members. “I’d rather not start over,” he added, noting that the upcoming construction season for the project is lost.

Ganneston has not received any compensation for the project thus far.

Selectman Stephen Hathorne said, “We told people we would keep them up to date for the process. Only one televised meeting took place last July. We have let the townspeople down.”

Town Manager Paul First said the meetings were announced and open to the public.

Selectman Laura Sturgis said she supports moving the project ahead.

In other business, First said the town needs to bridge a gap when the six-month moratorium expires on marijuana retail and social clubs in the town. The moratorium can be extended for an additional six months until Nov. 2.

Voters cannot authorize a total ban until the state adopts rules, which are expected next year.

Two officials with opposing views are working to develop an ordinance for the town, First said. 

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