(10/13) In early September, four companies submitted bids for the Green Street project. The scope of the project includes replacement of a trenchless structural storm drainpipe lining, sidewalk, curb and gutter installation and the repaving of Green Street. Last year, a brief investigation into a portion of cracked asphalt on Green Street showed a breach to the storm drain. The galvanized pipes in question were installed in the 70’s and at over 50 years of wear and tear, they are showing signs of severe deterioration due to the large quantity of water the pipes see.
The Council discussed seven variations of repair options, with estimates, to fix the issues, ranging from band-aid solutions to full replacement. They eventually opted for the Town staff’s recommendation of a "middle of the road" repair, where a lining is applied to the entire length of the Green Street pipe, with a 2023 cost estimate of $286,357.
The four offers included ECM Corporation bidding $528,276, Pleasants Construction bidding $457,694, Ross Contracting bidding $497,173 and Wastler & Son bidding $453,432. The bids cover the total cost for all labor, materials and equipment for a total of 530 linear feet of corrugated metal pipe lining.
Town staff recommended the lowest bidder Wastler & Son, the same company that completed work on Maple Avenue and in the Deerfield community. "The Town is very satisfied with their work and communication," said Williams.
Commissioner Betsey Brannen questioned the decision to award the project to a company that would be subcontracting the pipelining work out to another company. "The next bid is less than 1% more and they are doing the lining with ‘firsthand pipelining experience.’ What is the risk we are taking for less than 1% more in cost?" Williams replied that none of the bidders would be doing 100% of the project and they all use the same sub-contractors, so there would be no risk at all.
The Council also discussed turning Green Street into a one-way street. This decision was precipitated by adding a sidewalk to the corner of Maple Ave and Green Street and pulling the sidewalk in front of No. 3 Green Street out five feet, connecting it to Fulton Avenue. The issue at hand is that by bumping the sidewalk out by five feet, it narrows Green Street from Fulton Avenue to the Town Hall (about halfway down Green Street).
The suggestion to turn Green Street into a one-way from Fulton Avenue to Maple Avenue would be for safety reasons, with parking being restricted to the second portion of Green Street on the Maple Avenue side.
Williams pointed out that the decision to turn Green Street into a one way would not affect the awarding of the bid, so it was unnecessary to discuss it at this time.
Wastler & Son was awarded the project with a vote of three to one, Brannen being the dissenting vote.
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