DEMOCRATS HIT GOP ON NO-BID PURCHASE.(Capital Region)

Byline: KENNETH C. CROWE II Staff writer

Town Democrats have criticized the all-Republican Town Board for purchasing a $75,000 computer software program without submitting it to public bid.

"The idea of this not being bidded publicly really is an improper practice. It should be bid publicly," said Paul Rickard, a town Democratic committee member.

GOP Supervisor Kathleen Marchione disagreed with the Democrats' position on the software that was purchased from Clough, Harbour and Associates of Albany.

Clough Harbour, which serves as the town engineer on a project-by- project basis, will modify the software to serve the town's needs, …