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Capital outlay committee reviews shellfish lab condition, eyes grants for $2 million rebuild
Summary
After a site tour committee members described the shellfish/upweller facility as structurally concerning and said they applied for design grants (MVP and Seaport Economic Council); total rebuild cost was estimated at about $2,000,000 and the committee plans engineering/design work this year.
Committee members reported that a recent site tour of the town’s shellfish lab (the upweller) underscored structural concerns and the need for a multi‑year project to design and rebuild the facility.
During the meeting Chair summarized the tour and said the building needs attention: “That floor was a little freaky,” she said, describing visible structural wear. Members cited an approximate total rebuild cost of $2,000,000 and said this year’s work would focus on engineering and design, which was described as “a couple hundred thousand” dollars.
Staff and members said they submitted the same design application to two grant pathways — the MVP program and the Seaport Economic Council — to increase the chances of receiving funding. Committee members noted a grant match will likely be required; some participants speculated about an 80/20 split but did not confirm a required match percentage.
Several members urged short‑term safety assessments while the committee pursues funding: one member said he would coordinate a structural review with town facilities staff (Sean Libby) and produce short‑term plans so the facility is safe until a full design and rebuild can proceed.
Next steps: if the committee secures design funding, it would seek construction funding in a subsequent cycle; the committee intends to discuss the project again during the capital plan process and at future meetings once grant awards and design estimates are known.
