Andover board accepts culvert bids, work to begin in summer

By Shawn Cunningham
© 2016 Telegraph Publishing LLC

In a brief meeting Monday night, the Andover Select Board accepted the low bids of Ameden Construction of Jamaica for three culvert projects to be started in June.

Consulting engineer Everett Hammond pointed to the complexity of the culvert work done last year on Lowell Lake Road as an indication of the quality of Ameden’s work. “They did as good a job as anyone could expect,” said Hammond, adding that Londonderry town officials were very happy with the work.

The only issue that Hammond and members of the board had was whether the small construction firm was up to the task of three projects. Hammond said that after talking with company owner Wes Ameden about scheduling, he felt sure that he could handle the jobs.  Ameden added, “It simplifies my time. I know what I’m doing from now on.”

The three projects include culverts on Plumb Road, Simmonds Road and on the Andover/Weston Road at Simmonds Road. The third and most complex of the jobs is expected to take several weeks and close the Andover/Weston Road for approximately two weeks this summer. Board member Barry Williams said that there will be 10 days notice before the closing.

Ameden said that the hardest part of scheduling is coordinating the day that a crane is onsite to place the culvert and electricity to the area must be shut down. “You schedule five days ahead and, if it rains, the power company won’t do it,” said Ameden.

The low bids were $81,327 for Simmonds Road, $96,432 for Plumb Road and $137,550 for the Andover/Weston Road. Ameden Construction offered a discount of $2,000 per job if it was awarded all three bids bringing the total to $309,309, which is $55,541 less than the next lowest bids.

In other news:

• In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Cemetery Board member and Sexton Andrew Hill. Hill’s resignation leaves a vacancy on the commission, but more importantly it comes at a time when spring burials must be coordinated. Town Clerk Linda Bargfrede told the board that a new Sexton should be named as soon as possible. Bargfrede said she would speak with commission member Hank Mauti about filling in temporarily.
• Bargfrede also told the board that there is a grant for creating a local hazard mitigation plan and that Alison Hopkins of the Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission would like them to appoint a committee to work with her on the document. Board member Barry Williams said he would serve on the committee as a representative of the Select Board. It was expected that Kevin Baker would serve for highways. Hopkins had suggested that representatives of planning and public safety also serve.