|
APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE-2019 ATM
<br /> The construction cost breakdown below is for the project at 75%design completion.Each construction item
<br /> includes a 10% contingency. The overall cost has been reduced by approximately $270,000 from the 25%
<br /> design estimate of$9,372,350 presented at 2018 Fall Special Town Meeting.
<br /> Center Streetseape Construction Items 2019 Dollars
<br /> General Conditions/Site Prep $441,474
<br /> Roadway& Curbing $1,636,371
<br /> Sidewalk $2,173,545
<br /> Landscaping $1,580,035
<br /> Lighting $1,100,501
<br /> Site Furnishings $ 342,375
<br /> Total Construction Cost $7,274,300
<br /> Police Details (10%) $ 727,430
<br /> Construction Administration(15%) $1,100,000
<br /> Total Project Cost(Estimate) $9,101,730
<br /> If this article is approved, The Town Manager intends to apply for a MassWorks Infrastructure grant for
<br /> this project. if approved, this grant could substantially offset construction costs for this project. Approval
<br /> from Town Meeting for construction funds along with the completed design (funded by the earlier appro-
<br /> priation) will help to make our grant application more competitive. Unfortunately, the grant application
<br /> process will likely delay the start of construction by up to a year.
<br /> This committee is concerned about the high cost of this project and the added burden it will impose on
<br /> General Fund debt, and thus on future operating budgets. However,we believe the resulting improvements
<br /> to the infrastructure and safety of the Town Center merit Town Meeting's support.
<br /> Article 16(f)Automatic Meter Readin-2 System
<br /> This article would appropriate$5,940,000 to purchase and install an automatic water meter-reading system
<br /> in the town. That amount would be funded by$1,000,000 in cash funded equally by retained earnings from
<br /> the Water and Sewer Enterprise Funds, $1,500,000 from a 10-year zero-interest loan from the MWRA,and
<br /> $3,440,000 in 10-year bonds issued at an estimated 4%. Debt repayment and other costs would be covered
<br /> by the enterprise funds into which user charges are deposited.In addition to the Brown Book,the discussion
<br /> below draws on information contained in presentations to the Board of Selectmen on March 5 and March
<br /> 19, 2019 and a memo to Ralph Pecora, Elizabeth LeBlanc, David Pinsonnea.ult, Carolyn Kosnoff dated
<br /> November 19, 2018, and a report dated July 2018, all four prepared by Weston& Sampson, consultant to
<br /> the Town on this project.
<br /> Currently the Town bills for water and sewer charges twice a year, which requires a visit to every water
<br /> meter.This project would replace the estimated 9,800 meters that are more than 10 years old.The remaining
<br /> 4,650 meters are less than 10 years old and would not be replaced.However,all meters would be fitted with
<br /> transmitters in a dedicated wireless network connected to servers that would record use daily. The billing
<br /> cycle would be reduced from 6 to 3 months and users would also be able to log-in to check their own use
<br /> more frequently.
<br /> The older water meters in use are mechanical and their accuracy declines over time. For a meter in use for
<br /> 12.77 years (the current Town average), the consultant estimates that only 96.2% of use is recorded. A
<br /> meter in use for 25 years records a little less than 93%of use on average. These discrepancies do not result
<br /> in any loss of revenue to the Town,however,because water rates must cover all costs based on the amount
<br /> of water billed to customers. Thus, rates are about 4% higher than they would be if the meters recorded
<br /> 100% of use, but the Town only charges for 96.2% of the actual water usage. On average, customers pay
<br /> the same as they would with perfectly accurate meters. However, the over/under charge varies by meter
<br /> 33
<br />
|