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Library $eport of the In 2005, the Town applied for a grant from the Planning & Construction MA Board of Library Commissioners for the con- committee struction of a new library. The grant was to be used in combination with $3.5 million already approved by the Town to construct an approximately 21,000 square To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and the foot building on the current library site. The applica- tion was accepted, however, the project was placed on a "wait list" for funding. In October 2006, with no definitive date known for receipt of the grant and with The Planning & Construction Committee was ` 2005 the escalation of construction costs since 2005, the appointed by the Board of Selectmen in August to oversee capital improvements to the Town's facili- Planning & Construction Committee, at the direction � ties as well as the construction of new buildings. In of the Board of Selectman, began review of the 2007,the Committee,working with the Department of schematic design work completed to date by the prior I Public Works, oversaw the completion of several cap- ital projects approved at the October 2005 Town Meeting, including the replacement of the emergency The Committee spent several months reviewing generator at the Police Station and the installation of a the library's programming and construction cost esti- new emergency generator at Town Hall(to be finished mates with the project's architect, R. Stewart Roberts in February 2008). The Committee also began work Architects of Somerville, MA. The Committee rec- on two major capital projects, the design construction ommended to the Board of Selectmen that an addi- of a new fire station and the long-anticipated tional $2 million in funding be approved to supple- s ment the existing Town and grant funding to build the design/construction of a new library. 21,000 square foot library. The additional funding Fire Station#2 was approved at the May 2007 Annual Town Meeting and Town Election. In September, the Town received At the May 2006 Annual Town Meeting and sub- notice of the release of the grant funding. s Sequent Town Election, $2.1 million was approved by s the voters for the design and construction of a second The Committee interviewed for an owner's pro- fire station to be located on Town-owned property at ject manager in November, again, a state law require- 101 Red Brook Road. In January 2007, an owner's ment. Pomroy Associates was hired in January 2008. s project manager, Pomro Associates of South Easton, The Committee will work with the project manager, C MA,was hired by the Town, as required by state law, architect, and Library Director over the next six to assist with the project. An architect, Durland, Van months to finalize the plans and specifications. Vorhis Architects of New Bedford, MA, was hired in During that time, the library will also be moved to s May 2007. temporary space. Construction of the new building is anticipated to begin in Fall 2008. Working with these two firms and the Fire Chief, design plans and specifications for an approximately Respectfully Submitted, 5,100 square foot, single story station were finalized. The station will include living quarters for up to six Steven Cook, Chairman Irving Goldberg, Vice-Chair and two apparatus bays. Filed sub-bids and bids for the general contractor were solicited in Janice Mills, Clerk October. The Town received an excellent response to Joseph Brait the Request for Bids. A total of 15 bids for the gen- Sheldon Gilbert eral contractor were submitted and the bid percentage Kevin tt Smar spread for the five low bidders was approximately 2%. Eugene margon A contract was awarded to the lowest responsive and Patricia Parolski, Ex-Officio qualified bidder,Barbato Construction of Middleboro, MA, in December for just over $1.4 million, almost $2001000 less than estimated. Clearing of the project site by the Department of Public Works began in December. Construction is scheduled to begin March 1,2008. 131