The town of Chesterfield is in the early stages of creating a feasibility study for a public safety and town office complex, though an initial estimate from Wilbraham-based Roy S. Brown Architects, has significantly surpassed the budget for the project.
Last May, voters at the annual Town Meeting approved using $20,000 in free cash to fund a feasibility study for a new public safety/town office complex on the site of the Davenport Building on Main Road, which currently houses the town offices.
The deadline for proposals on the project was Dec. 7.
“We ended up with only one proposal for the study and it exceeded the budget that had been approved at our town meeting,” Selectman Robert Fuller said.
“It came in around 40 to 50 percent more than we budgeted for.”
To bring costs down, the town is now gathering previous records, surveys and informational data on the site that it has produced over the years, so that this documentation does not have to be recreated by the architect.
“We are putting together things like information on wetlands delineation, soil borings, topography, septic systems and well water, so that he doesn’t have to do all of that,” Town Administrator Sue Labrie said.
Fuller said that he expects this to bring the costs in line with the budget.
“I believe that we do have a lot of stuff that he could use,” Fuller said. “We have worked with him before, he has done two or three projects in town and he does a nice job.”
The Davenport site was originally selected for the feasibility study in part, because it is the only viable property already owned by the town. This would save the town a substantial amount of money, if plans for the public safety complex/town office proceed, as the town would not have to purchase a new property.
The Sam Hill Bridge in Worthington is now open after being closed to traffic for two and a half years.
“All I can say is that people are really happy that it is open,” said Select Board Assistant Peggy O’Neil. “Two and a half years is a long time to go with out a bridge.”
Repairs began in early September and the bridge was officially opened on Dec. 14.
Due to a set back in receiving pre-cast sections of the bridge, the repairs took longer than planned, and winter weather prevented the job from being fully finished.
“The project is not yet complete because they were unable to put the pavement down, so it is gravel at the moment,” O’Neil said. “They will pave it in the spring.”
The bridge spans the Watts Stream and was a paved road connecting West Street, to Route 112/Huntington Road.
Last October, the town was awarded $790,000 from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program for the engineering and repair of the bridge, after it was deemed unsafe by MassDOT and closed in 2014.
Since the bridge closing, Sam Hill Road residents and a large portion of West Street residents have had to find other ways to and from Route 112 and the center of town.
One alternate route has suffered due to the additional traffic.
“Starkweather Road took a beating because it has been the detour for a couple of years now,” O’Neil said. “So they will also be replacing a culvert on Starkweather this spring.”
In summer, the state closed another bridge in town deeming it unsafe.
“I have put a grant in for the Adams Road Bridge and we are waiting to hear if we will get that,” O’Neil said.
“The grant is for up to $500,000 and that is how much I am going for, as initial estimates to repair the bridge have come in over $600,000.”
Looking for something to do with or for the kids? Meekins library in Williamsburg may have just what you need.
Tuesday, Dec. 27, from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., children will have the opportunity to stop by and hone their creative skills with LEGO-style building bricks. All ages are welcome, children under five must be accompanied by an adult.
Thursday, Dec. 29, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., youngsters are invited to drop in to build their own mini gingerbread house, complete with lots of sweet building materials.
Saturday, Jan. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., pop in for some Frozen Tales and Tunes. This is a Winter Celebration with “Frozen” puppets, winter stories, songs, dance, crafts, games and more.
Ideas for this column on life in the hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at fryan.gazette@gmail.com.