Weston Rail Trail panel finalizes 80-page phase two planting bid specs

WESTON — February 24, 2020 — Weston Rail Trail Committee clears phase two planting specs for spring bid. The advisory committee said Monday that an 80-page bid specification for screen-buffer plantings along the rail trail is complete and has been forwarded to the conservation agent for administrative review. Task force chair Paul Penfield said consultant Allison Richardson revised the plans and dropped a Church Street Bridge segment after an abutter installed their own screening. The roughly $43,000 project will use a new state procurement procedure for bids between $10,000 and $50,000, managed by new town purchasing agent Charles Young, which allows direct vendor solicitation without advertising and does not require accepting the lowest bid. The Conservation Commission has delegated approval to its agent, and DCR confirmed no further easement permissions are needed. The committee, which dissolves June 30, set its next meeting for April 6.