There has been a lot of talk about potential big building projects on the horizon. But the Town has already approved smaller facilities projects that are successfully wrapping up. Here’s an update on those.
Senior Center
After breaking ground on the project in August 2023, the Senior Center Addition is making positive progress. Most of the construction has been completed in cooperation with students from Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, and is expected to be completed by the end of the school year. Parent believes “We could not be more happy with the kids from Assabet,” and “If we have to do anything in the future I would gladly and willingly use [Assabet students] without any hesitation whatsoever.”
The project is currently under budget. $400,000 in ARPA Funds was originally allocated, however Parent told the Select Board at its April 2nd meeting that a maximum of $250,000 would be used. At his request, the board reallocated $210,000 for furnishing the addition and painting or siding the Senior Center (plus the Town House landscaping – see the next item).
Town House
During the 2021 Town Meeting, voters approved a request to dedicate $2,238,283 in Community Preservation Act funds to restore the Town House. Since then, there has been steady progress on the restorations, and according to Facilities Director John Parent, the finish is on the horizon.
Parent also shared the welcome news that the project is coming in under the $2 million mark. That includes enhancements that weren’t part of the initial Town Meeting approval, but were subsequently approved as a change by the Community Preservation Commission and Select Board — a new, historically accurate slate roof and restoration of the original windows.
On April 2nd, Parent reported, “We’re just waiting for a couple of small little things at this point and [the renovations will be] done.” At their following meeting, the Select Board approved using some ARPA funds to cover new plantings to replace landscaping that was impacted by the restoration work.
If Parent’s timeframe holds, all of the work should be completed in time to celebrate the town’s 300th anniversary.
Street Lights
According to Parent, National Grid “hired an outside contractor” and is “anticipating that all the street lights will be up probably within the next six weeks.” Voted on by the Select Board in April 2023, the town is switching to more efficient LED bulbs.
This project is part of a town initiative to cut energy use. The switch in bulbs will not only save the town considerable energy costs, but will be an environmentally friendly and fiscally conscious solution. The bulbs and manpower for the switch are covered by National Grid.
Although the Town had wanted to make the change years ago, it was held back by the Planning Board’s initiative to reduce light pollution from blue light. In early 2023, Parent informed the Select Board that National Grid had come out with a newer bulb that wouldn’t pose a problem. After some debate and trial placement of bulbs to determine proper Watt levels, the Town finalized its request for the new bulbs last spring.
You can read more about this project at the bottom of this story
[Story by intern Maggie Fitzgerald with edits by Beth Melo.]
