The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-18
MAYORS STATEMi nj
ON RIVER CONTRACT
Replies to Contractor E. N. Normandeau,
One Of the Bidders for the Job,
Also Speaks Of Orange Reser-
voir Contract.

INV Aftt w lfkdRh 10 kht llNtl 'Vu
tract, my bid was the lowest and ths
council had no legal or moral right tc
award it TO anyone else"
Mr.. Normcandeau further states tlat
the statement in your columns Of Aug
| l2 viz, "the city council after long
discussion and consultation with me
awarded the contract, relating TO the
changing of Stevens branch, so-called, to
Joseph Long & Co.. is incorrect and
does not contain the dmmcst shadow
of truth. and y have heard from many
sources that different members Of said
council have said that withdrew my
bid and informed the council TO award
the contract to said Joseph Long &
Co
If the statement made by Mr.. Nor.
mandeau were correct. il would seem
that he had good reason to be sore
about the matter, and he would be just
I fled in showing up the matter 20 III
fellow citizens, 50 that they might knf
how indifferent the members Of the co
ell are to the interests Of the citizen.
Does Mr.. Normandeau deny that J.
was consulted by the eouneilg No H
states personally "the council asked me
ii ] was absolutely sure OF changing the
river bed by January !, 1911, and my
answer was that no one could be sure
OF doing so, but if anyone could do it
/ could One Of the members kept say
( ing that il placed them in bad posi-.
tion because my bid was the lowest
-. s.F ,Iar
repeatedly stated that i placed them in
bad position if we had no assurance
from the contractor that the water
would flow through tie new channel on
the lst day OF january, 1911, that being
binding on the city by arrangements
made with tie railroad company, and
not because Mr. Normandeaus bid was
the lowest which statement was never
made except when tabulated and when
Mr.. Normandeau was asked the question
in regard to the water flowing through
the new channel By January 1. 1911, he
may have thought that If anyone could
do it. ~he could; hut he certainly did
not express himself 50 that the city
council had any idea that he would,
hence the bad position referred TO preyi
ously.
And for the statement that be is in
position to-day and mas been in a
position to carry out the terms Of the
contract. he certainly must admit be
was not in a position TO satisfy the
council as 70 the fullIlment Of tie con
tract. during the long discussion and
consultation held on the matter before
the contract WAS awarded to Long 6 CD.
As for the legal right to award the
contract 70 anyone else bat 70 Nh, Nor
mandeau, would say taat the bids called
for distinctly stated that the council
reserved the right to accept or reject all
bids.
The moral right referred TO would
seem to be only a difference Of opinion
III regard to morals: but As the city
council did view ii and should have
viewed it. was 70 award the contract TO
could give the best assurance and tae
best security that the work would be
completed aud the contract filed as
called for, not only in the interests Of
the city. but also IN the interests of the
other parties Interested in the project,
which involves the city. according 70 the
contract, to the amount Of 100000 and /
The other parties to about S37 600. Mr.. +
Normandeau's bid would have reduced /
that total amount by S0500, which could /
not certainly have had much effect on +
the morals of the council, as to make I
any connection with the Long company |
or their bid
The contract for the Orange reservoir I
was not awarded BY the present council. +
Nor are some of the statements in
regard to same made by Mr. Norman
dean correct, and being contractor,
qualified BY experience, can see no rea
son why he has any excuse for making
same.
The contractors have complied with
every requirement made in the contract.
The delay in completion was no fault of
the contractors, but was something that
no one could provide for, further than
provide means to cover same, whicn
was done BIZ the city council by allow L
ING tie work on tie dam to he praeti
cally stopped until snch time as steel
piles were driven, which WAS extra work
and was not figured for in the contract
Tie contractors do not receive the sum
Of $4,000, bot they receive S3272260,
when is Ss,s3260 more than the esti-
mated contract, but which was also pro-
gided for il the contract classed under
As extra work, to be paid for at actual
cost Of labor, plus 10 per cent. for use
81 tools. etc. The estimate Of the city
engineer for the completion Of the work
was in the vicinity Of $4,000, and the
voters Of the city provided for that
mount of money at their meeting neld
lie 2Sth day Of April 1909, which did
not only include The work done BY the
contractor, hut also the materials and
fittings necessary to build reservoir.
The extra work which cost the extra
IS, ,S3260, was caused by the require
nent Of the steel sheet piling, also that
{ was thought advisable for to insure
he purity OF the water supply 10 strip
, large quantity Of loam from the basin, |
.hese items not being figured ia the /
with the Long company
Such being the case, can see no reason
Fhy any comment should be made IN
'egard TO tue contract for the Orange E
-eseryoir, nor in the manner the con.
raet has been completed
Yours respectfully,
James AIuteh, Mayor
Barre, Vt, Aug is. 1910