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North Brookfield selectmen hear grant setbacks, approve library and senior-center program grants
Summary
Selectmen were told J and L Construction has exited Complete Streets work, leaving roughly $76,116.59; the board authorized rebidding and approved Mass Cultural Council and Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants for library youth programming and a free senior-center music program sign-off.
NORTH BROOKFIELD — At the Jan. 27 meeting, selectmen received updates on two infrastructure grants and approved multiple smaller grant applications for library and senior-center programming.
Speaker 2 reported that the Complete Streets grant shows an estimated remaining balance of $76,116.59, a figure provided by the town's engineering firm, BSC Group. Speaker 2 said J and L Construction is no longer on the project and declined to complete additional sidewalk and curb work; the town will need to advertise, solicit bids and hire a new contractor, and Speaker 2 warned that extra professional services will be required at costs not covered by the current grants.
"They basically said they required 30,000 more dollars to do the work, which was $30,000 the grant didn't have," Speaker 2 said, describing why the contractor pulled out. The board discussed options, including rebidding and combining remaining Complete Streets work with Shared Streets and Open Spaces work to make the package more attractive to bidders. Speaker 5 confirmed BSC Group provided the balance figure and noted coordination with the school and Vibram for planned Shared Streets improvements on School Street.
Separately, Speaker 1 presented a $5,000 Mass Cultural Council Creative Experiences grant application for youth literacy programming at the library (no town match). The board approved the application. The board also approved two Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants — $3,000 for the library’s summer reading program and $5,000 for additional youth literacy materials and programming — and voted to sign a separate free senior-center music program grant that will bring a hip-hop square-dance event to the senior center on March 24 at 1:15 p.m.
Board members moved and seconded motions to apply for and authorize these grants; the motions passed by voice vote. Speaker 2 said more information will be shared as the town confirms bidding and engineering needs for the Complete Streets and Shared Streets projects.
