Berlin OKs Upping Of Town Bid Threshold

BERLIN, CT — In an easy, unanimous vote recently, the Berlin Town Council has approved expanding the dollar amount required for a purchase/contract to go out to public bid.

The 6-0 was at the Jan. 3 council meeting, with local leaders saying the new threshold will allow "government to work more efficiently and allow the town council to focus on planning for the future rather than dealing with administrative items," according to meeting minutes.

Prior, any town business work that costs $10,000 or more requires a formal bidding process.

The town, however, wanted to increase that bid threshold to contracts/purchases that are $25,000 or more, allowing for such deals to be finalized quicker.

It means a purchase under $25,000 can be done unilaterally and without a bidding process.

Under the old rules, the council was regularly having to discuss, debate and vote on bid waivers and/or items were going out to bid that were $1o,000 and up.

The council's ordinance committee voted Dec. 8 to formally recommend the new policy, with local residents/taxpayers able to comment on the plan at Tuesday's hearing.

The vote, technically, was an addition on the town's code of ordinances regarding taxation and financial items.

No public comments were rendered on the matter during a public hearing earlier in the meeting.

This specific item, previously, was on a list of proposed Berlin Town Charter changes that, ultimately, were rejected at the polls last November.

One resident speaking at the meeting, Cornel Boudria of Skinner Road, openly questioned why the council appeared to be superseding the will of the voters so soon after the item was on a charter change list rejected at the polls.

Berlin Councilman Charles Paonessa said had the town changed the bid rules via the charter, it would have been more difficult to make future adjustments anyway.

To change a charter item, a town must go to the polls. In the case of the code of ordinance route, however, a council discussion, hearing and vote are all that is required.

Berlin Mayor Mark Kaczinski said, in hindsight, having that item on the charter ballot probably was not necessary as state statutes allow for the $25,000 threshhold anyway.

For the minutes of the Jan. 3 Berlin Town Council hearing, click on this link.

From Dec. 30, 2022: 'Berlin Mulls Plan To Hike Bidding Requirements'