Williamstown board tables fire, police building plans
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By David Delcore TIMES ARGUS STAFF - Published: June 6, 2009
WILLIAMSTOWN – Selectboard members aren't interested in committing any additional town funds toward the construction of a new emergency services building until they have a better sense about whether that $2 million project stands a reasonable chance of securing federal stimulus funding.
Selectman Rodney Graham said this week that won't happen until they have an opportunity to review the application itself. The board hasn't yet seen an application, prompting Graham to suggest members postpone approval of a construction management proposal with a Barre contractor until after it has.
The proposal tabled by the board at Graham's suggestion Monday night was submitted by E.F. Wall & Associates and would have required the town to pay a non-refundable $4,000 fee for preconstruction services.
Two other firms – Engelberth Construction Co. of Colchester and Trumbull-Nelson Construction Co. of Hanover, N.H. – also responded to a recent request for proposals. However, Town Manager Garrett Earls said E.F. Wall submitted the low bid for the work.
The problem, according to Graham, is that the board may find the project doesn't even qualify for the favorable federal funding that is widely viewed as a prerequisite to pressing ahead with plans to construct a new public safety building on land currently owned by Selectman Larry Hebert.
"We should review the application before we commit any more money to this," Graham said.
The board recently agreed to use $11,000 in surplus money to pay a consultant to prepare the application. The $4,000 would be in addition to that, raising the total to $15,000.
Town officials have said they will not proceed with the project unless the town lands a sizeable federal grant to cover most of the construction costs.
The board has retained American Consulting Engineers & Surveyors to prepare the application and members learned this week that firm has applied for stormwater and wastewater permits for the project, and completed a topographical survey of 1.88 acres of land owned by Hebert.
The board has agreed to buy the land from Hebert for $160,000 if the town can secure a federal grant to cover most of the cost of construction a 12,000-square-foot public safety building that would proved a new home for the local volunteer fire department and the town's ambulance service.
The board approved the purchase and sales agreement with Hebert for the land located across from the Pump 'N Pantry on Route 14, but that document has not yet been signed.
Board members instructed Earls to provide them with a copy of the application as soon as he is able to obtain one.
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