Crowe: Snow Removal Bid List Was Expired When Extra Plowers Hired

Director of Public Works Tom Crowe spoke at Thursdays board of selectmen meeting to defend his off-list snow removal contracts and reveal that the town had qualified for FEMA funding following recent snow storms.

Crowe said that the great demand for plowing services had forced him to hire plows — like from Dick Wargo — at a regular rate of $95 per hour, despite the fact they had not entered a bid for equipment rental services in 2009.

Crowe spoke in defense of a Republican American article that also noted four companies that had bid in 2009 were not used to clear snow.

Crowe said this was because he had wanted to spread the town’s work around more evenly throughout local contractors.  He also noted that the bid list had expired by the time he needed to hire workers.

The town has used six companies for their plowing and clearning needs between Dec. 12 and feb. 7.  H.I. Stone was paid $41,922; Stone construction paid $40,942; S & S Asphalt Paving, 27,403, Beardsley Excavating $11,045; W. Kimball Inc. $9,120; Dick Wargo, $5,320.

The high level of snowfall has pushed the public works department’s budget, but Crowe did announce a small respite from FEMA, saying that the town had qualified for federal aid from the snowfall on Jan. 11.

Auditors would have to decide on the exact amount to reimburse the town, but Crowe said he expected a sum in the range of $50,000 to $60,000.