AUBURN - The city will pay an engineering firm an extra $60,000 for its services during a project to add a new cell to the city landfill.

The Auburn city council approved by a 3-2 vote Thursday a change order requested by Barton & Loguidice.

The firm was hired in 2005 to engineer the new cell for $486,000.

According to firm representatives, the extra funds were requested due to issues with the permitting process.

The firm originally requested more than $85,000, but that sum was negotiated down.

Council voted to table the resolution at two prior meetings, as numerous members had questions about the extra money.

Since then, councilors have looked over the original contract and invoices.

Matthew Smith and William Graney were still not convinced, as they both voted against the measure.

“I think we do owe them for the ... permit, but not the full $60,000,” Smith said.

In recent months, members of city staff have endured questioning from council over other requests for change orders.

Members of council have also requested that they be supplied with the original contract and a detailed explanation for every change order request from here on out.