Board reviews Community Hall furnace bids

OTISFIELD — Five different bids for replacing the "archaic" furnace in the Community Hall were reviewed by selectmen at their August 1 meeting.

"Otherwise [without a new furnace] it might be cold down there in the Community Hall this winter," said Chairman Hal Ferguson. 

The Community Hall was renovated at the beginning of the year and is open year-round – as voted at town meeting – for community luncheons, clubs and other town-sanctioned activities. 

In January, the board experimented what it would take to heat the hall for one week, which Selectman Rick Micklon said would help the town decide whether to invest in keeping it open year-round. 

Selectmen agreed last January that the old furnace did not provide sufficient heating, especially during the winter months. 

Two years ago, townspeople were asked whether they'd prefer to fix up the existing Community Hall on Route 121 or build a new one – townspeople responded that they did not want to put a whole lot of money into the project, so the selectmen asked themselves what needed to happen to make the Community Hall "usable." 

They decided to renovate the building and provide a better furnace. 

Bidders for installing a new furnace include E R Truman Plumbing and Heating of Norway; Pelchat Heating of Oxford; J Palmer and Sons of Paris; Bradbury's Plumbing and Heating of Raymond; and Robert Kahkonen of Oxford. 

E R Truman broke his bid down into two categories – the first is furnace replacement for $5,362. The second is oil tank replacement for $2,727. 

"He is relocating the oil tank because it doesn't meet code," said Micklon. 

According to Ferguson, Pelchat's bid is $6,000, and includes a 275-gallon oil tank. J Palmer and Sons' bid, is $4,300, and does not include a tank.  

Bradbury's bid, unlike the others, was broken down into three phases of work. In total, the project costs $6,785. Kahkonen's bid is $3,820, not including a new oil tank for $1,508.

Ferguson suggested since there is such a wide discrepancy between bids, that the board spend more time reviewing each one. 

A bid will be awarded once selectmen have determined what's included in each one and which one is the best value. 

In other news, the board: 

• Reviewed the Maine Municipal Association annual election papers. 

• Signed a BYOB application for a wedding and reception to take place at the Community Hall. 

• Announced that its seeking five volunteers to join the Heniger Park Committee whose mission will be to research the best utilization of the property for the townspeople.