Cheshire Finds Guard Rail Contractor, But Losing Trees

The Selectmen reported a bid for replacing guard rails was delivered by Federal Express in time to be considered.

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Cheshire was disappointed last week when a bid solicitation to replace guard rails on Windsor Road damaged by June's heavy rainstorm came up empty

If the Selectmen could not find someone to do the job, the town could lose the state funds given to them to replace the rails.

But it turned out there was a bid — just no one to accept it.

Federal Express attempted to deliver the single bid, said Chairwoman Carol Francesconi, however, no one was there to receive it at Town Hall. Because there was an attempted delivery before the bid openings occurred, Cheshire can consider the bid.

Aldo Bartlett Consolidated from Plymouth was awarded the job for $44,710. This is within the available Chapter 90 road funds

Highway Superintendent Peter LeFebvre said the amount is "just what they planned."

In other business, Francesconi said she was disappointed with the tree work done on Depot Street by Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

"They massacred those trees; it is disgusting," she said. "They have ruined the whole street, and all of those trees need to come down.

Because the trees were interfering with the power lines, National Grid hired the service to cut the trees away from the power lines.

LeFebvre said although they did a bad job, they did do what they were asked.

"I am not sticking up for them. I think they are doing a lousy job, but they are doing what they were asked by the electric company," he said. "We are going to try to save two or three of them on the street and that's probably it."

Cheshire cannot plant new trees in the area because of the power lines and most of the remaining trees will have to be cut down. 

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