Senate committee presses short-term fixes as search continues for new women's correctional facility site

Summary

State commissioners told the Senate Institutions committee that an RFP produced one bid, the previously appropriated $15 million remains available for a new women's correctional facility, and officials are requesting limited flexibility (examples discussed: $750,000–$1.5 million) to fund short-term repairs at the overcrowded existing facility while site selection and design proceed.

Chair opened the April 15 Senate Institutions briefing by saying the panel had invited Commissioner Manoli of the Department of Buildings and General Services and Commissioner Murad of the Department of Corrections to update members on the women's re-entry and correctional facility project and the state's immediate capacity concerns.

Commissioner Manoli said the state currently has just under $15 million appropriated for the new women's facility from prior capital bills and that no additional capital request was included while the team pursued a permitted site in Essex. "The community did not support the placement of the women's correctional facility" in Essex, she said, and the rezoning request was denied, which required staff to reopen the site search.

Commissioner Murad described the site search and RFP process. The RFP requested at least 20-acre sites with municipal water, power and internet located within defined corridors near I-89 and along Route 7; brokers returned a single submission that included two properties, and an evaluation to determine whether those parcels meet…

Senate committee presses short-term fixes as search continues for new women's correctional facility site

Summary

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