RUMFORD — The Board of Selectmen decided to table action Thursday on the downtown Island Project contract after a number of questions went unanswered.
Board members, who were seeing the proposed contract for the first time, said they were not comfortable from the start with the agenda item to approve the contract with Sargent Corp. of Bangor.
The questions, ranging from cost-cutting measures to why late-fee penalties were so low, were asked of project engineer Rick Dunton of Main-Land Development in Livermore. He said he would get the information to selectmen.
“Obviously, we’ve uncovered some issues that we need to address,” Town Manager Linda-Jean Briggs said. “So I wouldn’t ask that you vote on this tonight. It is in our town attorney’s hands for review.
“This is an opportunity to talk about the project. Moving forward, we’ll get clarification on some of the questions that were raised.”
Dunton said once the contract is awarded, the town will move to the construction phase of what will be an estimated $5 million project for downtown improvements. Included in that is a $990,000 project by the Rumford Water District, which will reimburse the town for its portion of the project.
The inspector will be Gary Violette, who will be a contracted employee for Main-Land during the project. Briggs said Violette will also be responsible for working with residents and business owners during the project.
Briggs said they are looking to start between April and May, with completion by December 2018.
The project includes replacement of sewer and storm systems under several streets on the Island, along with the replacement and/or placement of sidewalks and other improvements. The town is also seeking a Community Development Block Grant for infrastructure improvements.
Briggs said updates during the project will be displayed on the town website, rumfordme.org, and on the town’s Facebook page.
In other matters, the board appointed former selectmen Jeff Sterling of Rumford Point as a Rumford representative to the RSU 10 board of directors. He will complete the term vacated by Jeremy Volkernick, which expires in June.
Sterling will serve on the board with his daughter, Lauren, who is the Mountain Valley High School student representative.
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