JAY – The Board of Selectpersons approved installing a concrete slab in front of the fire station at Monday’s meeting, utilizing credit with a paving company to connect the new slab to the Main Street paving project.
Currently, the fire station includes a 44-by-4 foot section of concrete beyond its access doors. Beyond the concrete is pavement, leading to Main Street. In addition to being rutted and in general poor condition, fire officials said, the entire arrangement’s slope results in stormwater flowing back to the building. In the winter, this results in ice build up.
The plan would be to have the town’s Public Works Department tear up the pavement and concrete. A contractor would be hired to pour a 44-by-12 foot concrete slab flush with the building. R.J. Grondin & Sons, the company that is undertaking the Route 4 & 17 highway project, would then pave between the slab and the Main Street right-of-way.
By installing the slab before Main Street was paved, town officials said, they could ensure that the state project maintained the correct slope to eliminate the stormwater issue.
Jay has been tracking work and materials provided by sewer or public works department town crews to Grondin’s in relation to the project, such as providing piping or hauling material. The town has earned approximately $6,000 in credit with the company, which would be used to cover the costs of the paving.
The bid to pour the concrete was awarded to the company with the lowest estimate, Thomas Goding Building Contractors, a local company owned by Selectperson Tom Goding. He recused himself from the discussion, other than answering questions about his estimate, and abstained from the otherwise-unanimous vote. The company’s $5,080 price was less than two other companies that submitted estimates.
The fire department would need to find another place to keep their trucks for a week, as the slab will need to set for at least seven days prior to use. The funds for the slab will come out of the department’s reserve account.
In other business, the board was informed that a project to repair the Livermore Falls Treatment Plant’s grit chamber will require additional funds. Upon opening up the chamber, two bearings were determined to require replacement, in addition to concrete repairs. The bearings are expected to cost $7,300 to replace, although Jay Wastewater Treatment Superintendent Mark Holt said that the treatment plant was seeking a firmer price for all the work.
