North Stonington — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday night unanimously chose a clerk of the works to cover phase two of the construction of the new emergency services building.

Stadia Engineering Associates Inc., out of New London, already has been performing the role for the first phase of the $6.36 million project, which Stadia representative Jim Rossman said is 98 percent finished.

Some Emergency Services Building Committee members Tuesday night cited Stadia's familiarity with the project as an advantage.

The decision has been the subject of debate since shortly after the job opening closed May 20, when committee members deemed two applicants viable.

The second viable applicant was town building inspector Lou DiCesare II, whom First Selectman Nick Mullane has said could be about $40,000 cheaper than Stadia.

Committee members didn't have finalized numbers from DiCesare until June 30, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture — whose Rural Development loan program likely will finance the majority of the project — said last month that using the loan to fund town employees is a "conflict of interest."

Mullane said DiCesare "verbally withdrew his name from consideration" earlier this week, cementing Stadia as the town's choice.

Town officials will open bids for the project's general contractor at the North Stonington Volunteer Fire Department station on July 24 at 2 p.m.

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle