Select Board authorizes bids for 10-step granite staircase at welcoming center

The select board authorized staff to seek bids for construction of a granite-step staircase at the welcoming center, adopting changes recommended after a contractor consultation. Project presenter Carl said he is specifying 10 blocks and asked bidders to provide an alternate price for one additional block. "I'm planning to specify 10 steps, because the top step, should be onto a granite block rather than onto the gravel bank that is there," Carl said.

Carl described technical changes incorporated into the bid package: 2-inch overlap between blocks, 0.75-inch crushed-gravel bedding, larger specified boulders (16–20 inches), powder-coated black railing attached to granite via plate rather than set in concrete, and an optional single-block price to allow adjustments. The board authorized CDS/Kyle Rogers to seek bids, agreed to open bids outside a regular select-board meeting (with contract consideration at the Oct. 5 meeting), and approved the motion by voice vote.