The Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School Board is facing a more-than-double increase in snow removal costs from the town of Wilton for the coming year.
In the past, the town has plowed the two district schools located in Wilton for an unofficially agreed to flat fee of $3,000 per year. After assessing the cost of the plowing, however, Wilton sent a bill to the schools for $3,150 for storms in the 2015 calendar year.
The school has been negotiating with the town, asking for a flat-rate fee for budgeting purposes. The town has agreed to a flat fee of $7,000 per year – $3,500 per school – to be paid in January.
“They thought it was a very good deal based on what we would get if we bid it out,” said Vice-Chair Harry Dailey. He added that after speaking to some potential vendors, he agreed that any bid prices would be at the minimum double the amount proposed by Wilton.
The board agreed to pay the outstanding bill from Wilton, though the vote was split 3-2 with one abstention “on principle” based on the previous understanding of a flat $3,000 rate. The board also agreed to spend some time before next winter crafting an official work agreement or memorandum of understanding with the town to set terms in stone.
Lyndeborough charges the school a flat rate of $1,500 to plow the Early Learning Center in Lyndeborough.
Wilton costs in 2015: $3,000 flat rate for two schools
Wilton proposed for 2016: $7,000 flat rate for two schools
Lyndeborough costs in 2015: $1,500 flat rate for one school