A facility analysis and space needs assessment for the four buildings at the Department of Public Works site revealed outdated and deteriorated structures, insufficient space, and a lack of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bottom line? A $5.3 million project that would replace three of the buildings and renovate the fourth.
The $40,000 study, approved at 2020 Annual Town Meeting, was done by Boston-based CBI Consulting Inc. The 100-page report was completed Nov. 3 and included detailed explanations and photos of deficiencies found in the four buildings; current and future space needs; evaluations of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems; and proposals for each building, including cost estimates.
The storage garage known as the “pole barn” was found to be in the worst shape of the four buildings. The condition of the roof, walls, windows, and the two overhead doors was described as poor, and the barn itself was considered undersized to meet even the DPW’s current storage needs. CBI recommended demolishing it and building a new structure with increased storage space and five overhead doors. The estimated construction cost for the proposed replacement building is about $800,000.
The mechanic’s service garage, the oldest building on the site, was considered to be in fair to poor condition. The concrete block walls were noted as having uneven mortar joints, which the consultants said would “eventually allow water into the building.” The windows were reported in poor condition, and the low ceiling was said to prohibit servicing larger vehicles on the floor lifts. CBI recommended building a new service garage, which would have more space for vehicles on the lifts and more storage for tools and parts. Estimated construction cost for CBI’s proposed new garage is about $1.1 million.
The office building, also called the “connector” building because it connects to the service garage on one side and the vehicle storage garage on the other, was described as “deteriorated, drafty, and uncomfortable for the staff.” Office space and storage were considered inadequate, and the only locker room changing area in the corridor was cited for both privacy concerns and as an egress safety hazard. CBI recommended a new building that would provide open office space to allow collaboration between the DPW director and the foreman, an area for a future part-time administrative worker, and space to meet with the public. The proposed building would also have a locker room, and locker space for female employees, something the current building lacks. The estimated construction cost of the proposed new office connector building is about $400,000.
The newest building on the DPW site is the six-bay vehicle storage garage, built in 1984 and used to store trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. It also includes a break room, a multi-person bathroom, and a single unisex bathroom. Although CBI found no reason to replace this building, it reported that the garage floor has sustained damage from water and de-icing salt, and it needed to be patched and refinished. The two bathrooms needed updating and accessibility upgrades, and accessibility regulations would require lowering the corridor floor between the garage and the office. Total estimated construction costs for CBI’s proposed renovation of this garage are about $750,000.
Because of the extent of the renovations, sprinklers would be required in three of the buildings. Increased electrical needs would also require upgrading the electrical system from 400 amps to 600, and a larger generator would be needed to support the renovated facility. A 15% contingency and a 3% escalation were included, with an assumption of a June 2022 start date. Total estimated construction costs, including builder’s overhead and profit, came to just under $4.75 million. Design fees of $550,000 bring the total estimated cost of the proposed project to about $5.3 million.
At its Nov. 3 meeting, the Permanent Building Committee met with DPW Director Tim Kilhart and CBI’s Rick Almeida to discuss the report. Members had few questions for Almeida, other than to ask about energy efficiency. Almeida said that wasn’t included in the request for proposals, but he said the electrical system would be solar-ready. However, he cautioned that no structural analysis had been done on the roofs to determine if they could support the weight of solar panels. He added that the propane heaters used in various places would be replaced with an energy efficient heat pump system, so the only fossil fuel that would still be used on the site would be recycled waste oil. The furnaces that burn that oil would be upgraded, and they would continue to heat the two garages.
The committee voted unanimously to accept the report and pass it on to the Capital Planning and Investment Committee and the Select Board. Permanent Building Committee Chair Cindy Russo said the report “does a good job telling the town what needs to be done to the buildings.” But at the CPIC meeting Nov. 18, member SusanMary Redinger was looking for more input from the PBC. Given that the CBI proposal included a list of items that could be cut from the project to lower costs, Redinger was looking for more guidance. “We’re not building experts,” she said. “I thought that was the Permanent Building Committee’s purview.” She said she was unsure of what number the committee was supposed to work with, since there was no recommendation for or against the items in the deduct list, which totaled about $1 million. Kilhart said he thought that would be up to the Select Board.
Next step: Capital Committee
At the Dec. 7 Select Board meeting, members Kara Minar and Erin McBee said they’d like the Energy Advisory Committee to take another look at the proposal, and Minar said she wasn’t ready to move the plan to a Town Meeting vote next spring. Member Alice von Loesecke said CPIC likely wouldn’t put it in the capital plan for fiscal 2023, and it might be better to wait a year given the “extraordinarily challenged building environment we’re in right now.” The board voted unanimously to allow CPIC to move forward with fitting the proposed plan into its schedule, with the caveat that it wants to be kept informed.
