Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Center Renovation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor says community center plumbing, electrical and HVAC largely complete; one toilet and HVAC tie-in remain
Summary
Gardner City’s mayor reported substantial progress at the former Waterford Street School community center: electrical conversions, plumbing work in six of eight restrooms, HVAC condenser installs and new sump pumps are done; one toilet awaits masonry repair and final HVAC pressure testing is scheduled next week.
The mayor told the Economic Development Committee on March 25 that most renovation work at the former Waterford Street School — soon to house the city’s community and senior services — is finished, with a handful of remaining items before full occupancy. "They replaced all the plumbing fixtures in six of the eight bathrooms," the mayor said, and staff reported that electrical panels in the two‑story wing have been converted to standard light switches and that outdoor HVAC condensers were installed.
The mayor said contractors have installed industrial sump pumps and filtration to reduce silt-related clogging and that all mini‑split head units in the two‑story wing are now connected. One toilet in a lower‑level restroom remained to be installed because a mason must replace a removed cinder block; once that masonry work is finished the last flushometer and toilet can be hooked up, staff said.
Staff told the committee that concealed electrical and plumbing work is subject to pre‑ and post‑installation inspections: "All of this work is subject to the inspectors," the mayor said, explaining that electrical, plumbing and building inspectors and the building commissioner will sign off before a full occupancy certificate is issued.
Committee members pressed on remaining items and costs tied to accessibility and site work. Staff said ramps and other exterior concrete work are on the project scope and that the city has an "opinion of probable cost" from Ty Bond Engineering for the paving and ramp work; staff cited a $91,000 estimate for resurfacing municipal parking areas adjacent to the building and said the paving is not currently in the city’s operating budget.
On accessibility, staff noted the senior center will occupy the first floor because the building’s second floor lacks an elevator; an elevator installation was estimated at about $780,000 and is not yet funded. Staff said climate control needs for the city’s historical archives are being reviewed and that some archive storage could move into the building once additional climate control and security work are completed.
Life‑safety upgrades were discussed: the building has an existing fire alarm system that staff said works but needs upgrading, while sprinklers are not currently installed. Staff characterized a comprehensive sprinkler installation as a long‑term (five‑to‑10‑year) goal and gave a preliminary sprinkler estimate of roughly $1.1 million and an upgrade estimate for a full fire alarm system of roughly $460,000.
Staff said remaining HVAC piping connections must be completed and the system pressure‑tested next week; once those steps and the final plumbing/masonry repair are done, the mayor said he will report completion in the next monthly update. The committee took no formal vote on these items at the meeting.
