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Redevelopment authority approves $11,120 contract increase for NEPA work on Pleasant Street urban renewal plan
Summary
The authority approved an $11,120 increase to a consultant contract to cover work related to NEPA/SEIR review for the Pleasant Street Urban Renewal Plan; MassHousing will fund the remainder of the estimated NEPA expense.
The Fort River Redevelopment Authority voted Jan. 22 to approve a contract revision authorizing an additional $11,120 to MS Associates (letter dated Jan. 14) to cover required work for the authority’s NEPA/SEIR review related to the Pleasant Street Urban Renewal Plan. The board also authorized the chair to sign the revised contract.
Board members said the expanded federal environmental review requirements were not anticipated when the consultant contract was signed in 2021. Sarah Page and others explained that other jurisdictions are incurring similar additional costs — roughly $50,000 or more — to complete the required expanded environmental notification and review. Page said MassHousing is covering approximately $40,000 of the total estimated NEPA cost and the authority’s share for this contract amendment is $11,120.
Board discussion noted that MS Associates’ letter estimates roughly 60 staff hours of additional work to update figures and rewrite portions of the urban renewal plan to comply with NEPA/SEIR requirements. Board members characterized the fee as reasonable compared with costs reported by peer authorities and authorized the chair to execute the contract amendment.
Motion and vote: The motion to accept the Jan. 14 letter from MS Associates, revising the contract by $11,120 and authorizing the chair to sign, was seconded and approved. Recorded yes votes in the meeting transcript included John Erickson, Ron Rouson, Joan Maderas and Anne Keane.
