Selectmen Table Proposal to Change Bidding Procedures to Favor Local Businesses

Wednesday night, the Board of Selectmen voted to table a proposed policy that would have changed the town’s purchase and bid procedures to give preference to local businesses when the town goes out to bid for contracts or for agreements for goods and services totaling over $7,500.

The provision would give local businesses that are within 10 percent of the lowest bid the opportunity to amend their bid to match the low bid.

The town’s current policy awards contracts to the lowest bidder, regardless of their location.

While the ordinance was modeled after similar measures in Wethersfield and Farmington, Selectmen Bruce Lockwood and David Gilchrist expressed concern over an additional provision that gave the preference to businesses that have their principal place of business outside of Canton, but are owned by town residents.

Skinner said that he drafted the extra provision but did not see it offered in any other town ordinance.

“That may be going too far,” Lockwood said.

“What’s ownership these days?” added Gilchrist, noting limited partnerships and minority shareholders of a corporation. “It could be complicated.”

The board voted unanimously to table to measure to clarify the ownership issue as well as enable Selectmen Marc Cerniglia and Stephen Roberto, both of whom were absent, to weigh in on the matter.