Town controls costs for several capital projects

Date: 11/23/2010

Nov. 22, 2010

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW -- The town of Longmeadow recently announced that several capital projects were completed under budget.

Among the most expensive of the projects were the resurfacing of Frank Smith Road and water main replacement on Longview Drive, Birch Road and Barclay street.

The town awarded the resurfacing contract to Palmer Paving, which completed the work at an expense of $283,000, well below the estimated cost of $393,000.

While the water mains have been replaced, the paving of those roads will be completed in the spring. Once completed, that project is anticipated to cost approximately $304,000. The initial estimated cost was $424,000.

"We are in a very favorable environment for bidding on large construction projects," Select Board Chairman Robert Aseltine said. "We're pleased to have completed these projects in a timely manner."

In addition to these larger projects, smaller initiatives to repair schools and other municipal buildings, costing an approximate total of $400,000, were also recently completed at or under budget.

The projects included:

• Replacement of 12 exterior doors and installation of two new high-efficiency boilers at the Greenwood Center;

• Replacement of 14 sets of doors, lead paint abatement and painting, as well as masonry pointing at the Center School;

•Masonry pointing, roof replacement, restoration of the Albert E. Woods Legion sign and lead paint abatement and painting at the Old Town Hall;

•Replacement of original wood lockers at Glenbrook Middle School;

• Construction of four offices at Wolf Swamp School;

•Replacement of the gym floor at Williams Middle School.

"The fact that these projects have come in under budget means that we can now take that savings and apply it to other capital projects we need to pay for," Aseltine said.

The money saved will stay in the Capital Stabilization Fund and must be reallocated at the Annual Town Meeting next spring.

"The residents really have complete control of these funds and what they are used for," Aseltine said.