Western Builders confirms construction timetable

Date: 5/1/2012

April 30, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM — Representatives from Western Builders told the Fire Department Building Committee that it plans to have the work on the renovated main fire station on Boston Road completed in less than a year's time.

President Paul Ugolini, Project Manager Michael Flanders and Superintendent for Special Projects James Downing met with the committee and Tecton Architects on April 24 at the fire station to discuss procedures and to set up a time frame for the project.

"Our intent is to be done in eight to nine months," Ugolini said.

Western Builders was awarded the bid for the project at $2.7 million at the April 9 Board of Selectmen meeting.

Flanders and Ugolini said they are working with the Department of Environmental Protection towards a permit, which usually takes approximately 10 days. Trevallion said the Conservation Commission has also approved the project, provided that certain precautions are taken.

Ugolini, Jeffery McElreavy of Tecton and Building Inspector Lance Trevallion identified several areas in which Western Builders would have to coordinate with other contractors, utility companies or the town's Department of Public Works (DPW), including the installation of a new generator and the construction of a new radio tower, which is being installed by Green Mountain Communications. Account Manager Mark Montgomery, who was also present at the meeting, told Flanders he would be in touch with him to discuss the project.

Ugolini said the company will maintain working hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Downing said that while he did not anticipate the need, he wanted to be sure no special permits would be required for weekend work. Trevallion said no permits would be necessary.

Fire Chief Francis Nothe told Western Builders that the fire suppression operations at the main station would cease shortly, however, he hoped to maintain use of the offices as long as possible. Fire and other emergency response will come from the secondary station on Woodland Dell Road during the construction.

"We'll be moving the troops over to the other station in the next two weeks," Nothe said. "We would like to keep using the office space here as long as we possibly can, but when you say you need us out, we will get out."

Nothe said his only concern is making sure the garage bays for the fire fighting apparatus is complete by fall due to the weather. He explained that he wished to have two or three trucks at the main fire station at that time with personnel in a trailer on-site.

The fuel pumps at the station, which service all DPW, fire and police vehicles will remain operational during he construction. Nothe said that his department would not need to use the fuel pumps often and the department also as a fleet card at the neighboring Mobil station. Police Chief Roger Tucker said his cars normally only need fueling during shift changes and usually only three or four cars would use the pumps.

Western Builders and the committee agreed to have weekly meetings on Thursdays at 10 a.m. for the time being to monitor the progress of the construction.

Western Builders anticipates having a more complete timeline established by the next meeting.