6/25/09
First and foremost, allow me to apologize for my lack of updates. It has been an extremely busy 4 months in Town as numerous projects begin to take shape. One of those projects that continues to move along is the planning for the Emergency Services Facility. As many of you know, Town Meeting in approved over $600,000 to both hire a project manager and hire a firm to design and engineer a new Emergency Services Facility located at the current Town Hall Annex site. A building committee has been appointed to work with the firm selected which is HKT of Somerville, MA and the two are currently working towards a Fall Town Meeting. This meeting will include the design presentation and the question of approving construction funds. This is an accelerated process but one that all believe is possible. As
of today, the Committee is narrowing down the design proposals and hopefully in the next few weeks the design will be finalized to the point in which work on construction documentation can begin. It is important to note that it is the Building Committee's hope that this facility will incorporate as many renewable energy elements as possible. This in turn will reduce the life cycle costs of the building as well as being a model for future buildings in Town.
I think I speak for everyone involved in the project when I say that we are acutely aware of the economic status of the country and our community as it relates to this facility. It is our intention to create a facility that is efficient, cost-effective and fully functional. The Committee has worked diligently to keep the costs of the project in check without compromising the functionality. In this respect, the Board of Selectmen recently approved funding to hire a grant - writing expert to pursue a recently introduced grant program that is specifically geared toward funding the construction of these type of facilities. The Town is hopeful that we may be able to receive some grant funding to help off-set the costs of this facility.
In other areas, summer is just about here and the Town is preparing accordingly. The Spring Building reconstruction project continues to progress , making great strides over the past year to stabilize the building and preparing it for its next life. The Town is also preparing to begin restoration work on Town Hall which is in line for approximately $225,000 in work thanks in large part to Community Preservation Act funding. The Town has also recently created an official sworn Beautification Committee which plans to improve the look of the downtown area and beyond. Part of this beautification effort also includes the installation of bus shelters at the bus loop adjacent to the Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority Terminal as well as the replacement of the bus shelter at the Park and Ride.
Needless to say there is quite a bit happening in Tisbury. Thank you for visiting our site and I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer season!
Thank you,
John
John Bugbee
Town Administrator
51 Spring St.
P.O. Box 1239
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
Tel: 508.696.4203
Fax: 508.693.5876
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