Select Board to Revise Mowing Specs; cemetery commission to weigh separate budget line

The Select Board on Monday directed staff to update mowing contract specifications and to keep separate budget line items for cemetery and town mowing ahead of the town budget process.

"We are gonna update our specs on the mowing contract as things have changed up there and, with the price of everything too, which has gone up," Diane said, noting the cemetery commission will meet in October to revamp its part of the spec sheet. Board members agreed the revised specifications should be completed before the town finalizes its budget so the commission knows what to request. The chair cautioned against using sole-source procurement for routine grounds work, saying sole source is meant for specialties such as accounting or architectural services and that the town should be careful to comply with its procurement policy.

The board agreed, for now, to preserve distinct line items for the town and the cemetery in the bid documents and to bring the revised specifications back for consideration in November. Diane and other members emphasized the cemetery commission must agree to any work that affects cemetery grounds before the town moves forward.