Middletown board awards $2.53M DPW contract, approves EV chargers and police vehicles
June 12, 2023 | Middletown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
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The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors on June 12 approved several capital purchases and contract awards intended to upgrade public‑works operations, expand electric vehicle charging at the municipal center and refresh the police fleet.
The board voted unanimously to award the Department of Public Works Phase 1A winter operations rebid to Scott Building Co. for $2,531,682.50. Township staff said the project will replace a deteriorating salt shed, consolidate brine and salt operations, realign yard areas and integrate with recent fueling system upgrades. Officials told the board the rebid produced one qualified bidder after staff removed items the township can complete in‑house to lower costs. Staff recommended using a mix of ARPA funds and capital reserves to cover the work.
Separately, the board authorized the purchase of a Dynapack CC 1000 roller to replace a 33‑year‑old machine for $43,000, funded from the township’s road machinery fund, which is a dedicated real‑estate tax millage set aside for equipment purchases.
The board also approved authorizing purchase of four 100‑kW Level‑3 DC fast charging stations and a paving change order related to their installation. Staff said Middletown received a $215,000 Pennsylvania DEP grant toward the chargers; the purchase authorization capped equipment spending at $244,200 and the paving change order at $83,350. Staff estimated the total station purchase plus construction at about $447,508, compared with $430,000 budgeted, and said public‑works staff would perform some electrical work in‑house to reduce costs. The motion passed 4–1.
Police leadership asked for authorization to buy six patrol vehicles (four Dodge Chargers, one Dodge Durango pursuit unit, and a Harley‑Davidson police motorcycle) and indicated a major share of the acquisition will be covered by an RDA grant. The board approved the purchase by unanimous voice vote.
Board members said the purchases and contract award are investments in operations and public safety; staff emphasized that rebidding and doing work in‑house helped lower costs. The board also discussed capital planning tradeoffs, noting some projects had to be prioritized and that material prices have generally risen.
The motion to award the DPW rebid and the equipment purchases were the most consequential fiscal decisions of the meeting; all motions were recorded and carried before adjournment.
The board voted unanimously to award the Department of Public Works Phase 1A winter operations rebid to Scott Building Co. for $2,531,682.50. Township staff said the project will replace a deteriorating salt shed, consolidate brine and salt operations, realign yard areas and integrate with recent fueling system upgrades. Officials told the board the rebid produced one qualified bidder after staff removed items the township can complete in‑house to lower costs. Staff recommended using a mix of ARPA funds and capital reserves to cover the work.
Separately, the board authorized the purchase of a Dynapack CC 1000 roller to replace a 33‑year‑old machine for $43,000, funded from the township’s road machinery fund, which is a dedicated real‑estate tax millage set aside for equipment purchases.
The board also approved authorizing purchase of four 100‑kW Level‑3 DC fast charging stations and a paving change order related to their installation. Staff said Middletown received a $215,000 Pennsylvania DEP grant toward the chargers; the purchase authorization capped equipment spending at $244,200 and the paving change order at $83,350. Staff estimated the total station purchase plus construction at about $447,508, compared with $430,000 budgeted, and said public‑works staff would perform some electrical work in‑house to reduce costs. The motion passed 4–1.
Police leadership asked for authorization to buy six patrol vehicles (four Dodge Chargers, one Dodge Durango pursuit unit, and a Harley‑Davidson police motorcycle) and indicated a major share of the acquisition will be covered by an RDA grant. The board approved the purchase by unanimous voice vote.
Board members said the purchases and contract award are investments in operations and public safety; staff emphasized that rebidding and doing work in‑house helped lower costs. The board also discussed capital planning tradeoffs, noting some projects had to be prioritized and that material prices have generally risen.
The motion to award the DPW rebid and the equipment purchases were the most consequential fiscal decisions of the meeting; all motions were recorded and carried before adjournment.
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