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Finance Committee hears capital-project updates: DPW expansion, Newman theater, Pollard MSBA feasibility
Summary
On Jan. 22 the Finance Committee reviewed updates from the town’s Building Design and Construction staff on ongoing and planned capital projects including a DPW expansion, the Newman Theater renovation, library teen-space work, the Center at the Heights and the Pollard school feasibility study with the MSBA.
Town building-design staff briefed the Finance Committee Jan. 22 on the status of multiple capital projects and near-term funding requests, including phases of a DPW expansion, Newman theater work, library upgrades, Center at the Heights and the Pollard school feasibility project now in the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) pipeline.
Why it matters: the projects represent multi-year capital planning that will require design and construction funding votes at future town meetings and, in the Pollard case, state-level MSBA review and designer-selection procedures that will affect schedule and town resources.
Key project updates: - DPW: Phase 1 is an approximately 8,000-square-foot addition adjacent to the Jack Towswell building (Central Avenue), currently in design; construction funding for Phase 1 is anticipated to be requested at a special town meeting in October 2025. Phase 2 design funding for work at the 470 Dedham Avenue site is expected to be requested at the May 2025 annual town meeting. - Newman Theater: design is complete and construction funding will be sought at the May 2025 annual town meeting. - Library teen/tween space: Phase 1 design is complete; construction funding is targeted for the May 2025 town meeting so work could proceed next summer. - Center at the Heights: Phase 1 design funds were appropriated; the town is discussing whether to combine Phase 2 with Phase 1 construction and will return with details. - Pollard project: the town’s application entered MSBA feasibility review; the town has applied to act as its own Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) and expects an MSBA OPM-review meeting on Feb. 10. If approved, the town will issue an RFQ for designer selection and hopes to appear before the MSBA panel for designer selection in May so feasibility work can begin on schedule for a potential townwide vote in November 2026.
Staffing and budget notes: Building Design and Construction staffing includes a director (Hank), an administrative specialist (Catherine) and a senior project manager; an approved 0.25 FTE senior project manager position remains vacant and will be recruited as projects ramp up. Salary increases of about 4.3% (roughly $16,275) were included in the department request; operating expenses were presented as largely flat.
Next steps: staff will continue MSBA engagement for the Pollard feasibility process, proceed with RFQs and designer-selection planning if the town is approved as its own OPM, and return to finance and town meeting with construction funding requests in 2025 as design work completes.
