(March 23, 2017) On the recommendation of the Berlin Brach Library team, composed of county department heads, library officials and construction crews, the county commissioners endorsed a contract for construction of a new facility to begin in June and open to the public in July 2018 with a price not to exceed $6.25 million.
“I really appreciate the cooperation of the county commissioners and staff. We worked a long time to get to this point,” Ron Cascio, president of the Worcester County Library Board of Trustees, said.
The price, arrived at through a competitive bid process on 33 different subcontractor projects, is 5.4 percent above budget.
Salisbury contractor Whiting Turner will act as construction manager on the project.
There are three main sources of funding for the new library: local, state and county. Locally, the library foundation raised $425,000 in donations, which paid for the architectural services and the balance will contribute toward construction costs.
The state, via the department of education, awarded the project a grant in excess of $1.78 million, plus the current state budget includes a $50,000 line item for the project.
County Engineer Bill Bradshaw said the permitting process at both the town and state levels has begun.
The county ponied up $2 million, including $430,000 for acquisition of a 6.4-acre parcel of land on Harrison Avenue next to the Waystead Inn.
Early last week the Berlin mayor and City Council approved more than $26,700 in waivers associated with the project. The town also provided $75,000 in matching grant money, and the Humphries Foundation added a $150,000 two-to-one matching grant.
During the bidding process, some changes to the facility were made.
According to Bradshaw’s memo to the commissioners, more than $39,000 was shaved from the project by selecting a different roofing material, installing abuse-resistant drywall in the multipurpose room, and integrating HVAC controls differently than the proposal.
Bradshaw said the changes would add to the building’s durability and facilitate maintenance.
“I really appreciate the cooperation of the county commissioners and staff. We worked a long time to get to this point,” Ron Cascio, president of the Worcester County Library Board of Trustees, said.
The price, arrived at through a competitive bid process on 33 different subcontractor projects, is 5.4 percent above budget.
Salisbury contractor Whiting Turner will act as construction manager on the project.
There are three main sources of funding for the new library: local, state and county. Locally, the library foundation raised $425,000 in donations, which paid for the architectural services and the balance will contribute toward construction costs.
The state, via the department of education, awarded the project a grant in excess of $1.78 million, plus the current state budget includes a $50,000 line item for the project.
County Engineer Bill Bradshaw said the permitting process at both the town and state levels has begun.
The county ponied up $2 million, including $430,000 for acquisition of a 6.4-acre parcel of land on Harrison Avenue next to the Waystead Inn.
Early last week the Berlin mayor and City Council approved more than $26,700 in waivers associated with the project. The town also provided $75,000 in matching grant money, and the Humphries Foundation added a $150,000 two-to-one matching grant.
During the bidding process, some changes to the facility were made.
According to Bradshaw’s memo to the commissioners, more than $39,000 was shaved from the project by selecting a different roofing material, installing abuse-resistant drywall in the multipurpose room, and integrating HVAC controls differently than the proposal.
Bradshaw said the changes would add to the building’s durability and facilitate maintenance.