Town staff to seek bids for senior center bathroom renovations and TWB asbestos abatement; energy audit scheduled

Town staff announced Monday that bids will be solicited for senior center bathroom renovations and for asbestos abatement work at the Thornton Burgess Building (TWB). Bids for the asbestos work are due August 14 and bids for the senior center bathroom renovation are due August 21, town officials said. The Select Board approved the procurement timeline and staff said the town will proceed with solicitations and contractor selection.The town administrator said the asbestos solicitation requests per-square-foot pricing for three classroom sizes (about 800, 900 and 1,000 square feet) so the town can select specific rooms for abatement based on the bids. The senior center bathroom renovation scope and bid documents were prepared by the town’s building official and were expected to be posted for bidders this week.Staff also said a regional energy firm contracted by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) will perform an energy audit on three town buildings—TWB, Green Meadows and the senior center—on Thursday, Aug. 7. The audit will examine potential efficiency upgrades and help the town plan energy-related investments. Separately, staff said they are drafting updated transfer station rules and considering fee changes to better align disposal and recycling revenue with operating costs.