BUCKFIELD — The town has advertised for a construction manager to oversee its planned $1 million fire-rescue station, a major step in getting the project underway.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved four recommendations proposed by the Fire-Rescue Building Project Committee, including a building design, contract selection procedure and selection schedule.

On Wednesday, board Chairman Warren Wright said the board’s vote reflected the six-person committee’s unanimous recommendations.

In June, voters narrowly approved a plan to tear down the town’s aging fire-rescue station, which is cramped and unsafe, and borrow up to $1 million to replace it with a new facility.

According to Committee Chairwoman Cynthia Dunn, the committee, on the recommendation of Andy Hyland, a representative from Port City Architects, decided to use a construction service manager to direct the process instead of a traditional design-bid-build construction process.

A construction manager will work with the town and architects to vet subcontractors and propose cost and time saving alternatives, according to a Dec. 4 request for qualifications/proposals submitted by the town.

Prospective construction managers have until Dec. 18 to return proposals and qualifications and the committee hopes to select three managers for interviews on Dec. 23.

According to the request for qualifications/proposals, a construction manager will be graded on a 100-point scale according to five criteria, including relevant experience, demonstrated ability, qualifications of key personnel and experience qualifying subcontractors and working with municipalities.

On Wednesday, Dunn said the committee was committed to being “as frugal as possible” in the building’s construction.

The building’s design calls for an 8,000-square-foot station, including seven vehicle bays, as well as rooms for offices, bunks, training, storage and a kitchen. Emergency vehicles will still enter and exit the building onto Main Street.

The Board of Selectmen intends to borrow up to $1 million from Norway Savings Bank to finance the project, Wright confirmed Wednesday.

The committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Town Office.

pmcguire@sunjournal.com