Three more departments went before the Capital Planning and Investment Committee at its Nov. 3 meeting to request a total of about $1.3 million for fiscal 2024. The bulk of that amount represents the cost of three Department of Public Works projects, and one of those is the most expensive CPIC has seen so far this year—$600,000 to design the renovation of the DPW facility on Depot Road.
About a year ago, CBI Consulting prepared a condition analysis and space needs study on the four buildings that make up the DPW. It concluded that the office, mechanics’ garage, and pole barn were in such poor condition that they should be replaced. The fourth building, the main garage, was found to be in good shape, but bathroom updates and accessibility upgrades were needed.
The Select Board visited the DPW a few months ago to get a firsthand look at the condition of the buildings. Don Ludwig, CPIC’s Select Board representative, told the committee, “After walking it and seeing the facility, I think we were all in agreement to push this forward.” DPW Director Tim Kilhart said it was Town Administrator Tim Bragan’s idea to put the request in this year. Bragan said there were many reasons to move the project along quickly, including a ventilation issue in the mechanic’s garage and deteriorating components in the buildings that need to be replaced.
Kilhart is also asking for $240,000 to replace a 24-year-old Mack dump truck that is at the end of its useful life. He said the department’s large dump trucks play a critical part in keeping the roads open during winter storms, and this one has rust on the body and the frame from working in road salt. He added that it breaks down frequently, and parts are getting difficult to find.
The third DPW request is for $200,000 to fund the final design of the Ayer Road project. Kilhart said the town has already committed to paying for the design, and if he doesn’t get the funding, he’ll have to take it from the Chapter 90 highway funds that the town receives each year from the state. The Ayer Road project is scheduled to begin in fiscal 2026, and it will include widening the road from Route 2 to the Ayer line, as well as adding pedestrian/bike lanes and crosswalks. The project is estimated to cost $10 million, and Harvard’s only expense is for the design and land takings; federal and state funds will pay for the rest.
Solar panels on senior center, updated phone systems for town buildings
The Council on Aging had only one request this year: solar panels for the roof of the Lancaster County Road building that is being renovated as the town’s new senior center. The COA originally planned to install just enough panels to meet the needs of the building, but Energy Advisory Committee member David Fay said the town should install as many panels as possible on the flat, southwest-facing roof. He said any extra electricity generated there can be used to offset the electricity bills of other municipal buildings under the state’s virtual net metering program. The total cost of installing the panels is estimated to be about $160,000, depending on the number of panels the roof will hold. The federal Inflation Reduction Act will provide a 30% reimbursement to the town.
The final request in this round came from the town administrator. Bragan is asking for $100,000 to install a Voice Over Internet Protocol phone system in Town Hall, the library, the DPW, Hildreth House, and the new senior center. He said the existing phone system is over 30 years old and does not meet current technological needs. For instance, Bragan said, if someone in Town Hall called 911, dispatch would see the general number for Town Hall, not the extension from which the call came. The new system would be similar to the one the schools installed a few years ago.
The committee is scheduled to meet again Nov. 17 to discuss requests from the Parks and Recreation Commission. Those requests total nearly $1 million, and include playground upgrades at Harvard Park, pickleball courts, field restoration, and land acquisition for more athletic fields.
