Lysander officials approved an engineering scope of services amendment for the final design, bidding and construction phases for implementing the Whispering Oaks Sewer District improvements at the Jan. 3 board meeting. The agreement was made with the town engineering firm, Barton and Loguidice, at a cost not to exceed $233,000.
Lysander resident Andy Reeves questioned the agreement during the board meeting, asking why the board did not bid the project, but simply awarded the contract to the town’s engineering firm. Lysander resident Steve McMahon also questioned the firm’s appointment as the town engineering firm continuously for the past 29 years (the town’s organizational meeting was held prior to the regular board meeting during which annual appointments were made).
Councilor Art Levy responded to the inquiry saying that he had previously researched the issue and found that fees tend to be equal among engineering firms. However, if the town were to appoint a new engineering firm, knowledge about the infrastructure and institution overall, gained by the existing firm from the years it has worked with the town, would be lost; the new firm would have to acquire this knowledge, which would increase overall expenses. Levy also said Lysander’s annual engineering expenses are comparable to what other towns are spending on engineering costs.
