HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - CTHBC - 08/29/2017 Town Hall Renovation Advisory Committee Meeting
Wilcutt Commons
91 Sohier Street
Cohasset, MA 02025
8/29/2017
In attendance:
Mary McGoldrick, Chair
Carolyn Coffey
Fran Collins
Tom Reardon
Josiah Stevenson
Mark Toomey
Sam Wakeman
Chris Senior, Town Manager
Shane Nolan, OPM
Wendell Kalsow, MK&A
Doug Manley, MK&A
Megan Sherck, MK&A
Missing: Brian Joyce, DPW
The meeting was called to order at 6:45pm.
Mary McGoldrick asked for a motion to approve the minutes from 08/01/17 with
the following correction; Paragraph 2 to read, "Sam Wakeman requested the
Committee to take into consideration the potential future use of the Town Hall space
in its deliberation." Carolyn Coffey motioned to approve the minutes as amended.
Fran Collins seconded the motion.
Doug Manley began the discussion with the building schemes for Option 3
(Renovation of Historic Town Hall with addition attached) and Option 4
(Renovation of Historic Town Hall and new detached building). The programming
study was presented for each option.
Massing studies were presented for Option 3 and Option 4.
Shane Nolan presented the cost estimates for Option 3 and Option 4. Estimates
included numbers from both Daedalus Projects and McGinley Kalsow/DG Jones. A
comparison was made between the estimated costs for Options 3 &4. Estimates
include the premium to achieve a LEED certified rating. There is a 15.97% increase
in the cost for Option 4.
Shane Nolan presented a Cost/SF comparison of recently constructed Town Hall
projects that included: renovations, renovation/addition, and demolition and new
construction. The Cost/SF ranged from $354-489. (All costs were adjusted to Q2
2018 dollars using Turner Building Cost Index). Cohasset Town Hall Option 3 is
estimated to be $382 Cost/SF. Cohasset Town Hall Option 4 is estimated to be $408
Cost/SF.
For Option 3: $1,050,000 would be requested at Special Town Meeting on October
16, 2017 for the design and bidding phase, $11,750,000 would be requested at
Annual Town Meeting in the spring of 2018. The anticipated total project budget for
Option 3 is $12,800,000.
For Option 4: $1,180,000 would be requested at Special Town Meeting on October
16, 2017 for the design and bidding phase, $13,420,000 would be requested at
Annual Town Meeting in the spring of 2018. The anticipated total project budget
for Option 4 is $14,600,000.
Wendell Kalsow then presented preliminary eligibility for CPA funding for Options 3
and 4.
After much discussion the Committee voted unanimously to approve an attached
addition. The Committee decided not to vote on any other item related to project
design until they had time to review concerns from both the audience members and
Committee members regarding improvements to the aesthetic appeal of the
building. The Committee agreed to postpone the presentation before the joint
meeting of the Board of Selectman, Capital and Advisory on September 5, 2017.
Instead, the Committee agreed to present before the Board of Selectman on
September 12, 2017.
Some community members wondered if the Committee should ask the Town to
approve the estimated budget for Option 3 outright at Special Town Meeting in
October. Some members of the Committee concurred. Those for the proposed idea
cited the risks of spending$1million in design fees for a project that may not receive
Town approval at Annual Town Meeting. Mary McGoldrick pointed out that large
capital items tend to be discussed at Annual Town Meeting and more public
education on the project is needed.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45.