Politics & Government

Selectmen Add Local Preference Policy to Bidding Procedures

Reconsidered Measure Passes 4 to 0, Only Includes Businesses Located in Town.

At its most recent meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted to add a local preference policy to its bidding procedures.

The policy allows qualified businesses located in Canton to match a low bid if theirs comes within 10 percent.

Selectmen stripped out a proposed part of the measure to include businesses owned by residents in the policy. At its most recent meeting on Aug. 10 selectman Bruce Lockwood said ownership is often very complicated but added that he would support the policy for those businesses located in town.

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Selectman Marc Cerniglia voted against the policy at the July meeting, when it came to an impasse with a 2-2 vote. Cerniglia said the policy could discourage bids and result in businesses bidding a little higher than they would have.

David Gilchrist also voted against it in July but voted to reconsider the matter last week and voted in favor of it.

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Gilchrist said since the July meeting he talked to local people and researched similar policies in other towns.

He said he still feels Cerniglia made some good points but came to the conclusion that it will not cost the town money and will help local businesses.

“I decided to support it for the benefit of the local suppliers,” Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist said he agreed with taking out the provision to include businesses owned by local residents, stating it could get “terribly complicated” and be an administrative “nightmare.”

First Selectman Richard Barlow and selectman Stephen Roberto supported the policy as they had done previously.

The measure passed 4 to 0. Cerniglia was unable to attend the meeting, which took place at the .

At the beginning of the meeting last week, Chamber of Commerce President Gary Miller urged selectmen to pass the policy. He said state law allows many bids to be “piggybacked” through consortiums and other methods.

A local preference policy will at least give local business an edge they so often lose, Miller said. It is also a “greener” practice to try and keep work local, he added.


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