Westport Island officials met on Thursday, Oct. 20 at the town office to open bids for the planned sand and salt shed. Meeting attendees included the town’s selectmen, Robert Prue, president of Pine Tree Engineering, and representatives of companies submitting bids.

The town received three bids. The lowest bidder was David P Trask and Son, which bid $422,900, followed by Bowman Constructors which bid $482,000 and Blane Casey Building, which bid $507,963. No bid has been selected and the town has 30 days to evaluate the proposals.

According to Jonathan DeWick of Pine Tree Engineering, construction of the shed was expected to be approximately $325,000. “Discrepancies between estimated and bid costs may depend on a number of factors including who is bidding and the time of year,” DeWick explained. “It is a competitive environment.”

At the June town meeting, residents approved appropriating $150,000 for the shed’s construction and borrowing an additional $150,000 for the shed’s operation.  Additional monies for the project were created from school budget savings and retiring a previous debt.

The project had been discussed by islanders for 10 years and resident E. Davies Allan, president of Chesterfield Associates, Inc. volunteered to donate the costs for the site work to the town. According to the three bids submitted, the site work would create a discount for the town of $5,000 - $7,000.

A bid was not submitted by Chesterfield Associates. Allan said he believes that because Trask had built many sheds in the past, Trask is the “right guy for Westport, so I stepped away from it.”

An exchange between Allan and Selectman George Richardson Jr. led Allan to reconsider an additional offer to assist the town. When he questioned the selectmen about funding for the project, Richardson said the matter would not be discussed at that time. Allan asked why not and Richardson replied with what Allan later described as “rude and evasive responses.”

In an email sent to Richardson the following day, Allan called for a public apology, saying that, “I was on the cusp of offering additional financial assistance to help the town when I inquired about the funding available at yesterday's bid opening. Your rude and evasive responses caused me to reconsider.  I have been an avid supporter of this project for over ten years. I believe I have the knowledge and ability to help Trask reduce his price, and am willing to do so. Right after you make a public apology to me.”

Reached for comment, Allan indicated that his next steps are under consideration and that there is no deadline, but his services are dependent on Richardson’s apology.

Asked to comment on Allan’s email, Richardson stated that “We weren’t discussing anything other than opening the bids.”

The selectmen will meet with Pine Tree Engineering to discuss the bids and determine the next steps for the project. If additional funds are needed for the project, the issue will go before residents for a vote.