Alna selectmen on June 15 praised two gravel road grading bidders and then went with a third they said one of the other two recommended.

The firm that has done the springtime grading for years, Jack Shaw & Sons of Woolwich, this year bid $4,500, First Selectman Ed Pentaleri said in the meeting at the town office and over Zoom. “Jack definitely knows what he’s doing, I know (Road Commissioner) Jeff Verney likes him a lot, and so far as I’m aware he’s done a great job for us in the past.”

The next lowest bidder, at $2,800, was Sam Snow of Pittston, Pentaleri said. He said Snow did the ditching and grading part of this spring’s Cross Road repaying project. “I think Sam did a really fabulous job for us on Cross Road. I really liked working with him, he’s a straight shooter” and his bid on that project was less than half of the next lowest one, so that saved the town money, Pentaleri added.

On the annual grading contract, another Pittston contractor, Harry Moody, bid $2,353.50, Pentaleri said. “Sam highly recommends Harry.” Pentaleri said Snow reported Moody knows what he’s doing and would do the job right. “Anybody recommended by Sam Snow is alright by me until shown to be otherwise.”

The board chose Moody 3-0.

Pentalari reminded residents the board holds a “working meeting” on alternate Wednesday mornings. The next is at 10 a.m. June 29 at the town office.