PERU — Selectmen disagreed Monday on how to proceed with bids for a new Worthley Pond fire station.

Bids for the concrete pad from Morgan Concrete and the electrical work from Community Energy were received in January before the town requested offers, and selectmen were skeptical about whether they are valid.

Fire Chief Bill Hussey assured selectmen that he had spoken with the companies that made the unofficial estimates, and they will keep the prices they originally quoted, if hired to do the work.

Selectmen were adamant that they needed the price lock in writing.

Selectman Raquel Welch suggested that the fire station be one level with two bays for the trucks, which would cut costs by $7,800.

Vice Chairman John Witherell questioned why a bigger station was necessary, because the town has one.

But Assistant Fire Chief Dan Carrier and Hussey told him new firetrucks are 12 to 13 feet tall and will not fit in the town’s station.

The total budget for the project is $140,000. The construction bids selectmen are looking at are roughly $130,000, not including key elements such as insulation, the electrical connection from the building to the utility pole and overhead doors.

Welch made a motion that selectmen accept the bids, pending price confirmation on the concrete and electricity work, and obtain references and confirm the bidding companies have workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Larry Snowman seconded it and voted for it, along with Welch and Roach. Witherell and Wendy Henderson opposed.

A second motion to create a subcommittee of three people to further research the issue was withdrawn by Welch.

Fire Chief Hussey was asked to gather the necessary information and get the price estimates in writing, as well as to confirm the insurances and obtain references. He will present the findings to the board next meeting.

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