The Board of Selectmen met this week in what was called the quickest meeting in recent history, and voted on a single resolution to increase the bid limit for town contracts.

North Haven's town charter, as it is currently written, requires the town to go out to bid on all contracts that are $1,000 or more. When the charter was written, $1,000 could buy the town a lot for its money, but now, even the smallest of projects requires the town to put it out to bid, an involved process that is not efficient for town employees.

At the Feb. 2 meeting, First Selectman Janet McCarty said that state statutes allow towns to increase the bid threshold to $7,500.

"We are the only town that has a bid limit as low as $1,000," McCarty said.

Selectman Michael Freda inquired about how it has been for town employees to manage the bidding process. McCarty said the $1,000 limit requires a lot more work, and the change would "make it much easier for town hall employees."

The selectmen voted unanimously in favor of the adoption of an ordinance that would increase the contract amount requiring a public bid for contracts with both the town and the Board of Education from $1,000 to $7,500. The move to increase the amount requiring a bid was recommended by the Board of Finance at its January meeting.

The ordinance will go to a town meeting for a vote at the end of this month, or early March, McCarty said.

A couple people from the audience questioned whether the town would have an informal bid process for those projects that will now fall below $7,500. McCarty said she will speak to Assistant Finance Director Ed Swinkowski to get more information.

Police Chief James DiCarlo noted that what his department currently does is get several price quotes for the same project. "You can obtain two or three quotes without going out to bid," DiCarlo said.

Clean energy

Mary Mahon, a member of the North Haven Clean Energy Task Force, made a plea for help at the meeting. Mahon invited residents to join the task force, which was created by the Board of Selectmen in February 2007. The group needs help in getting residents and businesses to sign up for the 20% by 2010 Clean Energy Campaign, which is a challenge to towns to obtain at least 20 percent of the electricity for all municipal facilities from clean renewable energy sources by the year 2010. According to the program's Web site, in order to qualify a municipality must make a voluntary clean energy purchase of five percent in 2008, nine percent in 2009 and 13% in 2010.

For every 100 people who sign up to make the commitment to get their energy from clean renewable sources, the town gets one free solar panel to be used on any municipal building. Mahon said she believes the town has near 100 sign ups, but was waiting to get official numbers. She noted that smaller towns, like Bethany, seem to have great success with the program.

"It seems that smaller towns are doing a great job with this," Mahon said. "There's no reason why North Haven can't do that as well."

Anyone who wants to get involved with the Clean Energy Task Force, or get more information about the 20% by 2010 Campaign can call Mary Mahon at (203) 239-0053.

Tax payments

On behalf of Tax Collector Alan Sturtz, McCarty noted at the meeting that Feb. 2 was the last day for residents to pay their taxes on time. After Feb. 2, a penalty fee will be attached to the tax bill. Residents can continue to pay their tax bills online, but should call the tax collector's office first to get the correct amount.

According to McCarty, current tax collection numbers look to be on par with what the town collected last year.

The next Board of Selectmen meeting will be on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in the library community room.