Wiscasset learns bids on ambulance, more

Wed, 12/02/2020 - 5:00pm

Wiscasset selectmen opened bids for planning services, a new ambulance, and engineering of Wiscasset Community Center’s roofing project when the board met Tuesday evening, Dec. 1 on Zoom. The meeting is on YouTube.

All but one bid received on the ambulance was below the $200,000 voters agreed to take from capital reserve for it. Greenwood Emergency Vehicles of Brunswick had two bids, the lower being $182,500; Autotronics of Bangor, $187,695 and $192,865 with a Ford Fleet discount included; Professional Vehicle Corp. of Rumford, $159,375 with a Ford Fleet discount; Bulldog Fire & Ambulance of Woodhill, Massachusetts, $210,000 but with a new power stretcher and with a Ford Fleet discount; and Sugarloaf Rescue of Wilton, $188,836.

The board authorized Town Manager Dennis Simmons to review the bids with the EMS director and award the contract to the lowest qualified bidder.

The town received three bids for planning services. Lincoln County Regional Planning in Wiscasset, $38,925 or $56,525, depending on how many services are rendered, or a flat fee of $55 an hour; Northstar Planning of North Yarmouth, $110 an hour for a senior planner or $85 an hour for a junior planner; and Matthew Drost of Randoph, $54 an hour.

Selectmen Kim Andersson and Sarah Whitfield will review the bids with Simmons. The planning consultant will help update the town’s comprehensive plan and might assist with economic development. The consultant will be paid from unused planning monies that were carried forward.

Two engineering bids were received for the WCC roofing project. Simmons and the parks and recreation director will review the bids. Gale Associates of Bedford, New Hampshire bid $14,500; Wright-Pierce of Topsham, $6,900. Voters agreed to take $80,000 from capital reserves for the project.

The board renewed an automobile graveyard permit for Norm’s Used Cars of 744 Bath Road; approved new business licenses for Thomas Gilbert, dba East Coast Woodworking, Inc. at 424 Bath Road and Robert Applebee, dba 207 Gunsmithing at 683 Gardiner Road; and accepted “with regret” the resignation of accounts payable clerk Ellin Jasmin. Simmons said Jasmin is retiring and moving to Florida. She has worked in the town office since December 2013; her last day is Thursday, Dec. 10.

The town received a letter of thanks from Leslie Livingston, executive director of Healthy Kids in Damariscotta, for the recent $1,500 donation, which voters approved at the annual town election.

The board  meets next at 6 p.m. Dec. 15. Until further notice, all meetings will be held via Zoom due to the pandemic.