Centre Wellington council has authorized staff to negotiate a three-year contract with it current plumbing contractor.
Council made that decision in committee of the whole even though the contractor is from outside of Wellington County.
Treasurer Wes Snarr said in a report “Originally the scope of this proposal call was to provide the services of a plumbing contractor to cover general miscellaneous plumbing maintenance services at various township locations. Many of these are buildings with high profile public facilities having daily and possibly evening use.”
Snarr said Kittel Mechanical (2003) Inc., of Bloomingdale, had come to the three year completion of the contract it was awarded in 2008. He said council could recall the proposal entirely or consider an extension for a set period.
Snarr added, “It has been our practice over the years to review the merits of a contract extension with existing contracted and highly valued vendors knowing full well that a new proposal call will eventually be required to once again test the marketplace.”
He said Kittel has “provided excellent services to our many departments” and knows the township facilities and their operations and township staff.”
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj asked Snarr is the issue is simply one of housekeeping, and he said it is.
Councillor Mary Lloyd was concerned council is “not opening it up for applicants from the local business community.”
Snarr replied the township did that three years ago when it first awarded the work to Kittel, and it has provided good work and has knowledge of the township’s needs.
He said it is normal to offer one extension of such a contract and when this is due, the township will likely call for bids again.
The committee then approved the extension. Councillors Kirk McElwain and Fred Morris were absent.
