A Rhode Island company was the low bidder on a a $7.3 million contract for a new library. And questions surfaced again about the Edgartown Library Foundation.
Construction will begin soon on the new Edgartown Library, with the selectmen Monday awarding a general construction contract to a Rhode Island company.
The board voted unanimously to award a $7.3 million contract to Maron Construction Company Inc., which submitted the lowest of four bids the town received.
The vote earned a round of applause from library trustees and building committee members at the meeting.
Project manager Rick Pomroy of Pomroy Associates said Maron Construction, which is based in Providence, R.I., was thoroughly vetted. “We feel that the bid is a good bid and they’re suitable for this project,” he said.
Other bids have come in for subcontracting work. The new library, about 15,000 square feet, will be built next to the Edgartown School; the cost is about $11 million. The goal for completion is June 2015.
A discussion about library construction options again raised the issue of money raised for the project by the Edgartown Library Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Last spring, selectmen and library trustees sparred with the foundation over if and when it would give the town the money raised for the library.
Members of the library foundation said at the time that they intended to donate the money, though there was no set time frame, and they had concerns about whether the project would be completed. They also asked for naming rights for donations.
The selectmen and the library trustees criticized the organization’s lack of transparency and the trustees voted to ask the library foundation to cease raising money on the library’s behalf.
On Monday, Mr. Pomroy said that the library construction bid included four alternative prices for additional work: an upgrade from carpeting to hardwood flooring on the first floor; high acoustical ceiling panels in the community room and student craft area; a radiant floor heating system in several parts of the building; and upgrades to the landscaping plan.
He said the library building design committee was in favor of spending an extra $114,000 on the first two options. But he said the budget has about $100,000 contingency remaining.
While Mr. Pomroy said he agreed the first two alternatives are important, “I feel that we would be better off to be going into this with a contingency rather than going in with a zero base budget.”
There was some discussion about whether funds from the sale of the Warren House could be used for the project. Town accountant Kimberly Kane said there are laws governing what can be done with that money, and it must go toward reducing bond debt. Town administrator Pamela Dolby said they would look into what can be done with the money.
Others noted that the town would be eligible for grants of up to $250,000 because of LEED certification, though that won’t come through until after library completion.
Discussion then turned to money raised by the Edgartown Library Foundation.
Library building committee member Chris Scott said Monday that it was time to resolve the issue, which has gone to the state attorney general’s office for review.
“It’s unfortunate and unnecessary in my opinion that it had to come to that, but nevertheless the fact of the matter is that the public gave $450,000 . . . for the betterment of the Edgartown Public Library,” Mr. Scott said. “Coincidentally that is exactly the amount that would give us . . . the comfort zone that we need.”
“I understand what you’re saying but you can’t count your pennies until you’ve got them,” selectman Margaret Serpa said.
“We are in conversations with the town attorney regarding giving them a directive,” library trustee Deanna Ahearn-Laird said.
According to the Edgartown Library Foundation’s 2012 tax filings obtained by the Gazette this week, the foundation ended last year with $452,365 in cash, savings and investments. In 2012, the foundation raised $32,160 from fundraising events and spent $36,617. The organization reported receiving $4,156 in contributions, gifts and grants in 2012; it had total revenue of $981 and expenses of $11,425, for a loss of $10,444.
Mr. Pomroy said the town has 90 days to make a decision about the project alternatives. Construction could begin soon; he told the Gazette in November that construction could start within 30 days of the bid award.
Comments
Low bidder not always the
Matthew Sudarsky West TisburyLow bidder not always the best idea.Check Chilmark School.
Matthew, you are so right.
John Somewhere-in-the-Middle, USAMatthew, you are so right. Generally, the low bidder is the the low bidder for several reasons, and none of them are good. He may have overlooked aspects of the job in preparing the bid. He may use unskilled, low wage labor to perform the work. He will substitute inferior construction materials, using the contract's "or its equivalent" clause when supplying those materials. Be prepared to higher a truly knowledgeable Clerk of the Works to protect the interests of the town, and be prepared to spend all those "savings" from choosing the low bidder on fixing all the things that were done improperly.
This is not a good use of
Paulli D EdgartownThis is not a good use of town funds, and I find it amazing that this island does not have the foresight to say in the days of transportation and technology that we need 5 libraries and all this brick and mortar. While I agree there should be a library, a central one at that, future generations will not be using libraries as this baby boomer generation is building. Time to think of the future, and in the future we will have libraries that are barely used other than a meeting centers. In addition we could be using technology to help with our children's education on how to use technology to better ones life. Brick and mortar are not the future.
I disagree. A library is much
Ken Esq Edgartown, MAI disagree. A library is much more than books. It is a meeting place, a learning place, a place where technology is available to the public. A place for interaction and an important part of a community. Actual, as opposed to virtual, interaction is important to any community. As for a central library, that means it's no longer accessible on foot or by bike by many people, most importantly students.
What a shame that a way
Lionel Spiro ChappaquiddickWhat a shame that a way cannot be found to award contracts like this to Martha's Vineyard contractors. In that probably half of the $7,300,000 contract probably goes for payroll, the added $3,150,000 going to Vineyard carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC people and laborers would really help the economy, especially the eight months between October and May.
Lionel, I wonder how many are
Ken Esq Edgartown, MALionel, I wonder how many are available to work. It seems any we call around here take weeks to even return a call and a small building project can't be scheduled for anything under a year.
I totally agree, it is very
CHAPPY HOME WATCHI totally agree, it is very dishearting that the town does not support island contractors.
Look at the OB Library it's
John Gault Oak BluffsLook at the OB Library it's an example of the lowest bid. Rotting trim - A/C heating etc LOCAL is better and the prevailing wags rules in this state is terrible. Stupid is as Stupid does. How many LOCAL subcontracting will be use it should have been part of the agreement.
I hope the two groups can
Ken Esq Edgartown, MAI hope the two groups can come together on this project and resolve their differences. It would be a shame for there to be acrimony over a wonderful project that will bring so much to Edgartown. C'mon folks...work it out...and for decades to come you'll feel good anytime you drive by or visit the library knowing that your hard work helped bring it to fruition.
Siting public libraries on
John Somewhere-in-the-Middle, USASiting public libraries on expensive land, in stand alone buildings is a concept that is destined to go the way of the dodo bird. Recognizing that such facilities were rapidly becoming nothing more than book "museums", libraries have added additional services and programs and internet access to justify their existence. The time has come to merge the public libraries with the locations that most need their services. That would be the schools. In the future high schools should be designed with larger libraries and additions or enlargement of libraries should take place at existing locations. Put all the knowledge and learning materials in a central location where it will be readily accessible to those who use and need it most---the student and teacher population. Separate entrances could be provided for the general population and "off hour" use. Many, many towns already use their high school auditoriums for town meetings and special events. They use the school gymnasiums and other facilities at those schools for shelters in emergencies. Why not make the libraries a service found at the schools? We already own the land, complete with parking lots. Save the price of costly land purchases and make use of the cost efficiencies from a merger of services.
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