WESTBROOK – As a part of a continuing effort to cut costs by looking for ways to outsource certain services to local companies, the Westbrook City Council voted Monday to give preliminary approval to contracts to two Westbrook businesses to provide landscape and mowing services to the city.

The council voted 6-0 (Councilor Michael Foley absent) to approve a three-year contract to Nature’s Design Landscaping of Westbrook to mow at Westbrook High School, and a separate three-year contract to Knight Property Services, also of Westbrook, to mow along William Clarke Drive. The council’s approval will become final after a second vote is held at a future meeting.

According to City Administrator Jerre Bryant, allowing outside companies to bid to mow city property both saves money and allows the Public Services Department to concentrate on other projects.

“This is a continuation of our move to outsource mowing and landscaping services and the competitiveness of the private market for these services is underscored by the 13 (companies) that submitted bids,” said Bryant. “This service can be delivered much more cost effectively by private contractors and enables the Public Services Department to continue to meet the service needs of the city with fewer personnel.”

The contract with Knight Property Services for the mowing along William Clarke Drive is for $12,000 per year for the next three years. The Westbrook High School contract with Nature’s Design is for $9,400 for the first year, with the cost increasing to $9,800 per year for the final two years of the contract.

Both companies already have mowing contracts with the city. In a memo provided to the council, Public Services Director Tom Eldridge said that Nature’s Design already provides mowing and landscaping services at the middle school and Knight Property Services does the same work at the library and the grounds around the public safety building. In both cases, Eldridge said that the city was very pleased with the work being done.

In other news, the council also voted 6-0 to approve the replacement of a $9,980 light pole that was damaged in an accident on William Clarke Drive last winter.

While the council had to approve the expenditure, in reality, the new pole will not cost the city any taxpayer money. According to Eldridge, the city has already received the money for the replacement pole from the insurance company of the driver who damaged it, and that money will cover the full cost of the replacement.