Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 2/3/2021
WESTHAMPTON – During the Jan. 26 Westhampton Selectboard meeting, Chair Phil Dowling presented the estimated budget for the public safety complex and the board agreed to put the issue before voters again.
Residents at a Special Town Meeting in 2018 approved borrowing for a $4.4 million complex, but the necessary Proposition 2 ½ override was rejected by voters weighing in on the subsequent ballot question. In June 2019, voters approved bonding to complete design work, develop bid documents and perform other needed work.
Request for bids estimated the project cost at $4 million. In total, there were 11 general contracting bids and Dowling shared that even with the alternates, they were low.
Based on a predicted price from Mark Sullivan, of D.A. Sullivan & Sons, Inc., and of the sub-biders, a result of $3.6 million was a near precise guess, Dowling informed the board.
Recently, the Building Committee voted to accept the low bids and the two alternates. Dowling said that the first alternate was to install two overhead doors on the back of the building for a drive thru. The second alternate pertained to one of the bays that was already chopped off.
Dowling stated, “They could get by without that glass bay, but it was under $100,000. And in the future, if we ever tried to add it, it would be astronomical. So for under $100,000, on a $4 million project, it just makes complete sense to do that final bay.”
Dowling shared digital documents with his Selectboard members, explaining details such as a 30-yard roll-off container for demolition when emptying the building. Also, a storage container for items that are being saved.
“We’re going to have bids for the demolition of the building,” said Dowling.
He went on to say, “We’re also doing a fair amount of the preliminary site work in terms of setting up the site and getting it ready for the general contractor. And we’re doing work afterwards – such as building a retaining wall.”
The construction contingency for this project is $150,000.
Some other important costs for the project development include the architect/engineer services, owner’s project manager, legal/miscellaneous, etc. Additionally, a part-time clerk must be hired to oversee the construction. Dowling said the clerk they’ve selected is a town resident and will only charge them for his actual time.
Since the 2018 vote, there have been some cost increases, but ultimately, the total price tag should be lower, the chair said.
“In this building, there is undeveloped second floor space – not a part of the original plan. The project is a little more than it was two years ago, which is reasonable. That’s kind of what you’d expect – prices to go up. But the cost to the town is considerably less than it would be two years ago,” claimed Dowling.
The board agreed to call a Special Town Meeting on Feb. 27 to see if the town will vote to borrow, or otherwise provide some money, to pay costs of constructing, equipping and furnishing a new public safety building. Costs will also include the demolishing of the current structure.
A ballot vote will follow on March 13.
Selectboard members Teri Anderson and Maureen Dempsey agreed to a proposal for the ballot question that would cover all costs and plans.
Dowling said that postcards will be sent out, along with an informational, two sided brochure, to everyone in town.
Informational meetings will be set up and included on these cards. Meetings will take place in person at the Town Hall, with a limited number of people, along with online Zoom meetings.
Dowling explained that they need to move forward with this project for multiple reasons. One reason being because the general contractors have to hold their price for a period of time.
Also, this project schedule is around the fact that all fire equipment is going to move, meaning their trucks will be outside. Therefore, this will only work in the spring, summer and fall.
Dowling emphasized, “This building needs to be built and have trucks in it by the end of November, before winter comes.” He added that this is part of the reason for calling a Special Town Meeting on Feb 27.
For the ballot article, Anderson and Dempsey once again supported the proposal and budget vote, before handing over to the Finance Committee.