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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCapital Improvements 07/21/1994TOWN OF MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS' T'-'? 50 West Street, Mar�sfipel�, MA 020p8 , CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE MINUTES JULY 21, 1994 ',` '�.i`-TIS PRESENT: Stephen McCaffrie, Dianne Royle, Ralph Penney, Michael McClanahan, David McCarter, Andres Gazzolo William F. Williams, Town Manager Shaun P. Burke, Director of Planning and Development 1. Meeting called to order at 7:25 Y.M. 2. Mr. Williams explained Plan B as presented in his memorandum to the Capital Improvements Committee dated July 7, 1994. This is an alternative he said would be less costly than the original plan. Plan B deleted equipment, land acquisition, yet retains building, road and computer improvements. Mr. Williams told the committee it was important to reach a consensus on a plan prior to Town Meeting. He added that some may consider Plan A to contain unnecessary items and question if that plan's scope is too far reaching and ultimately lead to its failure. Mr. McClanahan asked for the details of Plan A. Mr. Williams responded that Plan A was the April Capital Improvements Committee draft plan. Mrs. Royle stated she had thought water system improvements had been deleted from Plan B. Mr. Williams responded removing water system improvements had been discussed by the Board of Selectmen, but that it had not been deleted. Mr. Penney suggested the committee use this meeting to decide what will go into the plan for the fall Town Meeting. A question was raised as to whether the necessary borrowing would be phased or done at once. Air. McCaffrie stated building reconstruction cost can be established and the buildings can be on-line in two and one half years if all of the money is voted and borrowed in the fall. Mr. McCaffrie expressed concern about the process proceeding contrary to usual with building plans being drawn after the Town Meeting vote, not before Town meeting, as has been done in the past. Mr, Gazzolo said the question before the Finance Committee would be how much money would be approved for borrowing and over what period of time borrowing would take. Regarding debt service, Mr. Gazzolo would like to know the long-term cost of servicing the renovated buildings and the long-term operating budget impact of same. ?Ir. Gazzolo also inquired when the long-range annual operating budget projections would be completed. Mr. McCaffrie asked if he could see Plan A, Some of the Municipal Building Committee projected costs included Internet and Interlink computer updgrades, which may appear in Plans A and B. Mr. McCaffrie added computer costs may be lowered if they were in both budgets. Also, construction costs now are a best guess, but he expects the actual costs to be lower when construction bids come in. Mr. McCaffrie then explained the Municipal Building Committee's past experiences, especially with the new schools, where projects come in well under projected cost. Mr. Penney asked Mr. Williams to compare Plans A and B. Mr. Williams suggested selecting a plan was a fiscal policy decision, not just a difference in language. He explained it would be a balancing of risks; to reduce or not reduce requested funding in order to secure a positive vote. Mr. Williams also identified items that were deleted, such as equipment and acquisition. Mr. Penney asked what was included in the computer system. Mr. McCaffrie responded the number may be able to be reduced because some of the cost included in the Town Manager's Plan B would be covered under MBC building plans. Mr. Penney asked what that number was. Mr. McCaffrie said building furnishings may be $200-300,000 for the whole Town Hall project, with approximately $100,000 for computers at Town Hall. Mr. McCaffrie said a portion of the cost of the computer systems had been placed in the respective buildings. Mr. Williams suggested it might be more prudent to back out the MBC numbers for Town Hall computers to allow the Town Hall computers to be upgraded within the next 12 months. Mr. Williams stated he would like to bring the complete and revised plan to Town Meeting in the fall. Mr. Penney asked if the MBC could back out the cost of the computer system and revise the cost of building renovations. Mr. McCaffrie responded the committee could, but would need a special meeting very soon. a Mr. McClanahan asked if the schools were included in Plan B and was told they were not. Mr. McCaffrie stated his concern with Plan B was that the town could not rebuild the police station for $600,000 and build a new fire station for $450,000, as shown in Plan B. Mr. Williams said the Municipal Building Study stated it would cost $2.9 million to renovate Town Hall, including the downtown fire station renovations. Mr. Williams questioned whether a $3 million override question would pass at Town Meeting or at the polls if there are no renovation plans and the number is so high. The committee discussed the issue of need for plans to be presented to Town Meeting in order for the public to fully understand what it is they are being asked to fund or if a clear statement of need and conceptual plans are sufficient. Mr. McCaffrie said development of town owned land options, such as the Hutchins property, may still be explored. Mr. Williams requested a revision on the cost of a three - bay fir department substation in West Mansfield. Mr. McCaffrie said one of the reasons for a new station was they were trying to avoid a major upgrade at the downtown fire station by placing headquarters in West Mansfield. Mr. Penney asked if the MBC could come back with a revised construction cost estimate. Mr. McCaffrie responded it would be approximately $800,000 to $1 million and that he would work with other MBC members to try to firm up the Town Hall and Fire Station construction cost numbers. Mr. Williams suggested the committee discuss the police station. Mr. McCaffrie said one primary cost consideration in question is upgrading to federal standards. Also, the number of jail cells, including juvenile and female cells that would be needed effect cost significantly. Mr. Penney asked what the cost per cell would be. Mr. McCaffrie responded each cell would cost approximately $25,000, within a budget of approximately $1.2 million for total renovations of the building. Mr. Williams stated that with these two changes, Plan B as revised tonight is approximately $1 million more than Plan B as shown in the July 7, 1994 memorandum. Mr. Penney said the committee could also back $100,000 out of the plan for the computer improvements based on earlier conclusions. Mr.. McClanahan said the committee would have to come to a decision whether to support A or B, and if B needs to be further refined. He asked the committee if it would be willing to take a final vote at a meeting in the near future on a revised plan. Mr. Penney said he wanted to know the cost of the three - bay substation in West Mansfield, a narrative description of renovations, and a better cost estimate for the Police Station moving into Town Hall. Mr. McCaffrie said there were no architectural plans drawn for the move at this time. Mr. Penney asked what the water system improvements and the $670,000 in treatment plant cost referenced Plan B encompassed and was told Foolish Hill transmission line improvements and sludge compost center improvements, respectively. Motion: To approve conceptually Plan B with further refining. (Penney -Royle) Under discussion, the board talked about the difference between Plans A and B, the possibility of a single general contractor doing the building work, and an creating a construction implementation schedule. Following a discussion, a consensus vote to support a revised Plan B was taken. All in favor. PASSES. 3. Adjournment at 8:45 P.M. Date of next meeting: August 9, 1994 at 7:00 P.M.