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Sheffield voters approve $2 million to design and renovate highway garage at 48 Sheffield Business Park
Summary
Voters at a special town meeting approved a $2 million borrowing to pay for design, owner's project management and initial renovations of town-owned buildings at 48 Sheffield Business Park; officials said design/OPM will cost about $500,000 with renovation estimated at roughly $1.5 million.
Voters at a special Town Meeting in Sheffield approved a $2 million borrowing to fund design, owner's project management (OPM) and initial renovations of town-owned buildings at 48 Sheffield Business park.
Moderator Julie Hanam read the motion, which authorized the treasurer, with Select Board approval, to borrow under Massachusetts General Laws c.44, §7(1). Select Board chair Naen Hover told voters the board selected EDM as the designer and expects phase one to include design and OPM costs (about $500,000) and renovation costs estimated at roughly $1.5 million.
The measure addresses a building the board purchased after an earlier vote to acquire property for a highway garage. "We anticipate the cost for the design work and the OPM to be approximately $500,000, together with the estimated renovation cost of $1.5 million," Naen Hover said in explaining the proposal.
Residents pressed for detail. William Kelsey said he disliked "approximate" estimates and asked to see formal plans before committing funds. The board and town staff said preliminary drawings and an initial Weston & Samson study had been shared at earlier meetings but that the full architectural plans and cost estimates require hiring and paying a designer and OPM first.
Moderator and board members provided a tax-impact estimate if both phases are ultimately approved: "about $0.58 per $1,000" of assessed value, which the board said would be about $250 a year for the average home; officials emphasized the figure was an estimate, not a final guarantee.
The article passed by a substantial majority on the new Meridia TownVote electronic system: 54 yes, 7 no. The Select Board said they will issue an RFP for an OPM and proceed with design work first; construction of a second building for vehicle storage, a wash bay and salt/sand shed is planned in a later phase. The board indicated short-term bonds would be used and combined with future borrowing by August 2026.
What happens next: the board will proceed with design and project-management procurement, return to voters for phase two borrowing when ready, and report back to town meetings with detailed plans and cost estimates.
