WILLIAMSBURG — The town has engaged with two contractors for the demolition of the Helen E. James School and the construction of a public safety complex on the site.
The successful bid to do the demolition work from Costello Dismantling of West Wareham was $394,000, while the winning bid from Forish Construction of Westfield to build the public safety complex was $3,764,618.
“Demolition and abatement came in significantly lower than expected,” said Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo, while the construction cost was a little higher.
In total, the project is set to cost $5.1 million — with $4.1 million coming from borrowing and $1 million coming from savings.
Caccamo said the these low bidders were issued notices to proceed by the Select Board at the board’s Thursday meeting.
“It’s really the first step in these public projects,” Caccamo said.
Caccamo said this will allow the contractors to move forward, and that the next step for the town will be to sign contracts with them. However, Caccamo said he doesn’t think this will be an issue because the contracts the contractors would sign were included in the packages for the bidders.
Because a higher overall cost for the demolition and construction was anticipated, Caccamo said the town had been holding back budgeting some of its American Rescue Plan money to cover potential higher bids. Now that this won’t be necessary, Caccamo said that money has been freed up for other uses, although specifics have not yet been outlined.
The tentative date for the school’s demolition is June, Caccamo said, while the public safety complex should be done by the fall of 2023.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.