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Select Board approves $64,900 amendment for Route 79 project; officials warn of potential additional takings costs
Summary
The Lakeville Select Board approved a contract amendment to the Route 79 engineering contract and heard staff warn that late survey and easement work has increased project costs and could require additional borrowing.
The Town of Lakeville Select Board approved an amendment to the engineering contract for the Route 79 reconstruction project at its July 8 meeting but members and staff flagged additional right-of-way work and potential takings costs that may push the project budget beyond previously authorized borrowing.
Town Administrator and project staff told the board that late-stage requests from town counsel and MassDOT required additional surveying, easement research and legal work not in Beta Group’s initial contract. The amendment the board approved (motion amended on the record to include the dollar amount before the roll-call) covers that added engineering work. The board discussed an updated tally of bills to date and a remaining estimate for easement and takings costs of “about $900,000” within the previously authorized $2.3 million borrowing for the project; staff cautioned that inflation and market-value increases since the original 2019–2020 estimates could increase final takings costs.
Board members pressed for clearer tracking and asked that staff return with a consolidated accounting of all encumbrances and projected takings so the board could decide if additional borrowing or other budget actions will be required. Several members also said the late discovery that confirmatory layouts and other right-of-way work were necessary should be reviewed with town counsel to understand why those items were not locked before the borrowing vote.
The board amended and approved the Beta Group amendment by roll call and directed town staff to provide regular updates to the Select Board and the finance office about projected additional costs and any anticipated need for borrowing authorization.
No construction or takings were approved at the meeting — the vote covered the consultant amendment only — and the board asked staff to return with a full cost reconciliation for the project in the coming weeks.
