Although there were any number of questions about who and when and how, Bellevue Council voted Tuesday to award a contract for a streetscape design to Civil and Environmental Consultants.

The firm’s bid was some $3,000 higher than the next competitive bidder’s, but members of the Downtown Business District Advisory Committee re-commended CEC because, according to council president Kathy Coder, its proposal was customized to relate to Bellevue, and the company had experience with similar streetscape projects.

CEC will be paid $40,000 in grant funds to develop a plan for improvements along Lincoln Avenue. As part of its participation in the Allegheny Together program, Bellevue has applied for additional grant funds to perform the work that is approved by council.

Some council members questioned who was on the DBDAC, when they had reached their decision, and why council had not been provided with more information.

Coder and director of administrative services Doug Sample said that the proposals submitted by the firms had been forwarded to council weeks ago, and council members had been invited to attend the meeting at which the firms were interviewed.

As to who was on the committee, officials and Allegheny Together representatives drew a blank during Tuesday’s meeting. After the meeting, Coder said that the committee, which had been designated by council to act as liaison between council and Allegheny Together, was comprised of herself, Bellevue architect Jack Williams, Mark and Amy Robinson of Bellevue, and Kilbuck resident and Ben Avon realtor Bill Ondek.

The motion to award the contract to CEC was approved in a 4-3 vote with Linda Woshner, Jim Viscusi and Jane Braunlich opposed. Mark Panichella and Susan Viscusi were absent.