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Garrett Park reviews FY2024 finances, road projects and $3.1 million Town Hall renovation estimate
Summary
Town Manager Barb Matthews reported FY2024 revenues exceeded budget by $143,524 and that $516,136 in ARPA funds remained unspent; the council discussed a Town Hall renovation (Option 4) estimated near $3.1 million with about $1.0–1.1 million in identified funding gaps without federal support and progress updates on road and sidewalk work, including a $40,519.49 change-order under review.
At the Sept. 9 Garrett Park Town Council meeting, Town Manager Barb Matthews delivered the FY2024 financial highlights, an update on the ongoing Road and Sidewalk Improvements Project, and a detailed review of the Town Hall renovation funding outlook.
Matthews reported final FY2024 revenues exceeded the adopted budget by $143,524, primarily because income-tax receipts outperformed expectations by $116,823 due to an unusually large payment in November 2023. Total operating expenses were $124,931 below budget, with the full contingency account (Account 17.0) remaining unspent and accounting for about one-third of the variance. She said the unexpended ARPA balance as of June 30, 2024 was $516,136; reserved Highway User Revenue (HUR) funds totaled $102,544; and capital funds from Montgomery Municipal Cable totaled $13,781.
Regarding the Town Hall renovation, Matthews recapped that the council had selected Option 4 (a rear addition, removal of a non-historic front addition containing two non-ADA restrooms, and two new ADA-compliant restrooms elsewhere in Town Hall, with no basement). Axias, Inc.’s January 15, 2024 cost estimate for Option 4 was $2,682,165; Matthews said associated permitting and consultant fees were estimated at about $420,000, putting the overall project near $3.1 million. Identified funding for the project totaled $1,998,857 (including a $300,000 state grant award not yet received). Matthews said a $500,000 congressional earmark had been recommended by the Senate Appropriations Committee but is not guaranteed until final federal appropriations are enacted; without federal funding the town would face an approximate $1.1 million funding shortfall, or about $600,000 if the $500,000 earmark is awarded.
Matthews recommended moving forward to the Design Development phase to produce more detailed drawings and a refined cost estimate. Councilmember Stephen Paczkowski offered to review Option 4 to identify potential ways to reduce costs and said he would aim to provide a preliminary recommendation in a week or two.
On public works, Matthews reported contractor progress in August on milling and paving segments of Cambria Avenue and Shelley Court and that Kenilworth Avenue paving was scheduled for Sept. 10. The town awaited a contractor schedule for Waverly Avenue sidewalk replacement and associated work (a Weymouth Street speed bump and a reconfiguration at Argyle/Kenilworth). A contractor change order for $40,519.49 was under review related to full-depth patches and omitted speed-bump reinstallation; pricing was also requested for curb replacement in the 4700 block of Argyle Avenue.
Matthews also noted the base lease for In the Kitchen, LLC d/b/a Black Market Bistro had been signed and that a final letter amendment on closing hours remained under negotiation.
