RUMFORD — The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday evening to have Town Manager Linda-Jean Briggs sign a $5 million contract with Sargent Corp. of Bangor to replace some sewer and stormwater lines on The Island and sidewalks.

Project engineer Rick Dunton of Main-Land Development in Livermore said they will move on to the construction phase. 

Briggs said they are looking to start between this spring and finish by December.

The project includes $990,000 worth of work by the Rumford Water District, which will reimburse the town.

The inspector will be Gary Violette, who will be a contracted employee for Main-Land. Briggs said Violette will also be responsible for working with residents and business owners during the project.

Town attorney Jennifer Kreckel reviewed the contract. She had questions about insurances and bonding, but noted that much of those concerns had been or are being addressed.

Before the vote, Selectmen Jim Windover and Mark Belanger suggested increasing the amount for missing the project deadline from $50 a day to $100.

Windover made a motion to have the amount of money held until the job was finished increased from 5 to 10 percent. Belanger seconded it.

“I’m worried that we’re going to play volleyball with this (contract),” Chairman Chris Brennick said.

“I don’t want to delay this project,” Selectman Peter Chase added. “If this does, what’s our option? Where do you want to go from there.”

The motion was defeated, 2-3.

In other business selectmen:

• Signed a three-year contract extension with Briggs, effective June 19, for $82,000 the first year and a 2 percent increase each of the remaining years; and

• Announced a public hearing for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in Rumford Falls Auditorium on an application from the Rumford Water District for a large water extraction permit. The district signed a 15-year agreement with Poland Spring Water Co. last year to draw up to 150 million gallons per year of water from two district wells.

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