Sep. 20—JAY — Selectpersons voted 3-1 Monday to award the contract for renovations and an addition at the Public Works Department garage to a Jay contractor, the sole bidder at $263,000.

Selectperson Thomas C. Goding of Thomas C. Goding Building Contractor was the sole bidder. He moved away from the board's table into the audience before discussion began and returned only after the vote was taken. He did not vote.

Five local contractors were contacted. The public bid opening was Sept. 6.

Craig Boone, a Jay architect who put the bid package and design together, estimated previously the project could cost $350,100.

The work includes removing T1-11 siding and asphalt shingles, furnishing and installing insulation and new metal siding, new metal roofing and new vinyl replacement windows, and adding a new lunchroom onto the building. The current lunch room, which is next to the bathroom, will become a parts room.

Goding bid $35,500 for that part; $175,500 for energy upgrades and modifications of the main building; and $52,000 for alternate energy upgrades for the seven-bay garage.

Selectperson Gary McGrane asked if it was a conflict of interest to have a selectperson do the work.

Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere said as long as Goding doesn't vote on it, it is not.

Goding has worked for the town several times before and sometimes volunteers.

McGrane also said he thought there should be a bond for the project.

Boone said it would cost $8,000 for a bond.

To work on town property, a contractor has to provide adequate proof of $1 million general liability insurance, and have the town as an additional insured, LaFreniere said Tuesday.

The focus this year is to get the lunchroom built and to get the concrete blocks laid before it gets too cold to use mortar. The rest would be done in the spring, Boone said.

Building supplies also need to be ordered because in some cases, there is at least a 16-week wait.

Voting in favor of awarding the contract to Goding were Chairman Terry Bergeron, Vice Chairman Tim DeMillo and Selectperson Lee Ann Dalessandro. McGrane was opposed.

Selectpersons will decide at their 6:30 p.m. meeting Monday at the Town Office how to pay for the project. There is $119,000 in the Public Works building reserve account and about $239,400 left, as of last month, in the town's allotment of the American Rescue Plan Act.

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