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The Permanent Building Advisory Committee spent 2002 working with various Town officials and committees to advise them on a variety of building project issues.
In 2002 there were two independent Building Committees functioning, both of which had members of our committee serving on them. Bob McLaughlin continued to work on the BHS Athletic Complex Building Committee, and Joel Mooney was appointed to the Town Hall Complex Building Committee, which he chairs.
The major projects occupying us this year were the Fire Station Consolidation, planning for a Senior Center, and assessing of all the Town buildings that haven’t been renovated recently. In the spring, following another “Mega-Meeting” for capital project planning, the Selectmen decided to look at solving some of the building problems by forming a cluster on the BHS side of Concord Ave. We worked throughout the summer with representatives of the Capital Budget Committee, Council on Aging, Board of Library Trustees, BHS Athletic Complex Committee, School Committee, and Tim Higgins, Town Planner to explore various alternatives which might help resolve several problems with one large project. After a presentation to the Board of Selectmen, it was decided that this idea was one that the Town would not pursue at this
time.
In May, on behalf of the town, we entered into a contract with Edwards and Kelcey, an architectural/engineering firm, to perform a “building audit” of 12 buildings. These are, the hockey rink, The White Field House, the poolhouse and pump room at the Underwood Pool, the Cemetery office building, the Water Department building, 6 buildings at the Highway Department, and the Police Station. The completed report identified the deficiencies of the buildings, along with cost estimates both to remedy/repair the current buildings and to replace them. This report will be used by the Capital Budget Committee and the PBAC to develop a long-term plan to address all of our building problems.
We added two new members to our committee this year. Rob Jones replaced Fran Williams (who continues to advise us when needed), and Karen Pressey replaced Nancy Fay. Nancy chose not to be reappointed, in order to spend more time with Ernie and her grandchildren. We will miss her, but are pleased to be working with Karen.
In the following year we look forward to three long awaited projects being advanced to the next level. These are the creation of the new cemetery on Concord Avenue, and the formation of building committees for the Senior Center and the Fire Stations.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Brusch, Chair
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