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FIRE STATIONS BUILDING COMMITTEE
As the year 2005 began, we expected to open construction bids in January and have a groundbreaking for both new Fire Stations in February. It did not happen that way.
From previous appropriations for land acquisition and site costs, it was anticipated that $150,000 would be adequate to raze the existing building and to prepare the Trapelo Road site where the new Headquarters Fire Station was planned. Prior to the acquisition of the Trapelo Road site, the geotechnical investigation was limited by the prior owner and the existence of an occupied building on the site. After the acquisition, and in preparation of the Trapelo Road site for construction, we encountered the unexpected. Asbestos was found in the membrane under the roofing surface, additional oil tanks and waste oil were found in the subsoil and in an area in back of the building, a hot-spot of heavy metals, apparently resulting from discarded automotive batteries, had to be removed. It appeared that the previously approved
funds for razing the existing building and removing the hazardous materials were approximately $400,000 short.
Our next surprise came with the opening of the general contractors bid. It was $1,100,000 over the estimate. Our architects, Donham & Sweeney, stated it was the first time it had happened to them in 30 years. From our investigation we found that although construction escalation had been in the range of 1.1 percent to 3.2 percent for the previous three years, that suddenly in 2004, construction inflation jumped to 9.1 percent.
As a Committee, we agonized over rejecting all bids, or attempting to reduce the size of the building, but finally determined that it was clearly in the best interest of the Town to proceed with the projects as planned and to ask the Town Meeting for additional funds. To that end, at a Special Town Meeting in March, we asked and the Town Meeting appropriated an additional $400,000 for site clean up, and removal of contaminated soil, and an additional $1.1 million for construction for a total of an additional $1.5 million.
With the funds in hand, we succeeded in negotiating a construction contract with CTA Construction, the lowest responsible bidder, and construction began in April. The construction progress has been monitored very closely with weekly meetings of a sub-group of the Committee and monthly meetings of the whole Committee.
As the year 2005 came to a close, both the Headquarters Station on Trapelo Road and the Sub-station in Belmont Center were approximately one-half completed and appear to be on time and on budget.
The Committee would be remiss in its report without a special thanks to the daily efforts of Fire Chief David Frizzell as the department head liaison to our Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert E. McLaughlin, Sr., Chairman
Joanne Coakley, John Greene, William Lovallo, Linda Oates, Leo Saidnawey, William Shea, William Webster, David Frizzell, Management Liaison, Edward Davison, Alternate Management Liaison
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