The makeup of the Marion Select Board had changed since the last time Tim Sawyer of Yarmouth Port-based Catalyst Architecture/Interiors Inc. was before its members to provide an update on the new Marine Center planned for Island Wharf.
Catalyst was first involved almost three years ago in what started out as a design-feasibility study aimed at identifying needs, constraints and opportunities at the present site, from which emerged a conceptual design ultimately sent back for major revisions after Town Meeting feedback.
As summarized by Sawyer during the Select Board’s February 22 public meeting, the conceptual design presented too large on the waterfront. He explained the necessary 19-foot elevation and 6- or 7-foot grade “that lends itself to requiring the building to be substantially elevated.”
Catalyst responded with a reduced concept of less program area, and “observation amenities were extracted from the project,” said Sawyer, bringing the project down to bare needs. “We got to that reduced design concept in December 2020.”
The revised design, he said, was produced on a conceptual budget-based design rather than an engineering-based design. By March 2021, Catalyst had produced what Sawyer called “early-level structural engineering narratives” that he considered valuable in establishing a budget. Catalyst was then authorized to develop that design with engineers and is now 99% consistent with the conceptual design.
Sawyer said there have been a few modifications along the way involving greater detail. He said the project is at a 75% level of (bid-ready) documentation. Several meetings for progress review have not yielded any more significant changes but have yielded a few he considers relatively minor.
The wraparound observation deck was considered to be not quite adequate for the Harbormaster Department’s views, so a cantilever design off the corner of the building has been added at minimal cost.
The original design had an administration area, a welcome desk and two workstations. That has been redesigned into separate offices with glass walls.
The revised project has received the Conservation Commission’s approval, and the next step is a site-plan review.
Municipal permitting will clear the way for the completion of documents and bidding, with the goal to align bidding toward the end of summer to bring to Special Town Meeting in October.
The emerging concern during the COVID-19 pandemic was financial, and postpandemic inflation has made estimated construction costs soar from $2,862,000 to a new January 5 estimate of $3,516,500, a $654,000 increase.
Compounding the impact is an originally anticipated $2,300,000 in funding from the state’s Seaport Economic Council topped out at approximately $1,600,000. The SEC told Deputy Harbormaster Adam Murphy that Marion is already the beneficiary of a disproportionate allocation and that no more SEC funds are forthcoming. All the while, the department has been researching grant opportunities to mitigate the shortfall.
Finance Director and Interim Town Administrator Judy Mooney pointed out that the first $300,000 granted by the SEC was for the design of the Marine Center, and the remaining $1,300,000 received earmarked for construction. Sawyer countered that the entire $1,600,000 goes to the bottom line.
In explaining the inflated price, Sawyer said the construction industry is still suffering from the effects of COVID. While the price of wood is getting slightly closer to pre-Covid levels, the cost of steel remains high.
Due to its required elevation, Sawyer estimated that the new Marine Center will cost $647 per square foot, “not outlandish from what I’ve been seeing,” he said. “A building like this that we had done four years ago … in the $400 to $500 range.”
Sawyer advised against further shrinking of the currently proposed footprint, citing elevation as the cost driver. He told the Select Board he has “cherry picked” $90,000 in potential savings via materials selection.
“Because the structure is on the perimeter, the expensive square footage is the foundation,” he explained. “We’ve kind of lost our economy of scale.”
Select Board Chairman Randy Parker agreed and suggested that there is no aesthetic value to a red-copper roof if the seagulls are going to use it for droppings anyway.
Sawyer will presumably use March to “button up” all the drawings with a best-case scenario of trying to take bid pricing to a special Town Meeting in October.
Select Board member Norm Hills found a $400,000 mistake in the estimate. “That makes me uncomfortable. … I just want to hear somebody say there aren’t any more,” he said. He was not consoled by the fact the mistake works in Marion’s favor. “Still a lot of money that we don’t have. … Unfortunately, we have a lot of other demands for money.”
Select Board member Toby Burr, the owner of Burr Brothers Boats in Marion, recused himself from the proceedings.
In her Town Administrator’s Report, Mooney led off with a Department of Public Works facility update, noting that the February 13 committee meeting with lead architect Will Saltonstall yielded cost estimates informed by consulting engineer Ken Motta. The committee discussed options to conduct some of the work internally, including water and sewer lines and extending electrical utilities.
“It was a great meeting, I walked away from there (feeling) comfortable,” said Parker, who said the committee also looked at styles of buildings and was waiting on Morton Buildings. “We’re still within the budget but not by much.”
Mooney gave a brief FY24 Budget Update before attending the Finance Committee’s meeting that night with the Fire Department. As of February 22, the town was waiting on the Old Rochester Regional School District for a preliminary budget. She said the town is dealing with a budget deficit of just under $300,000.
Finally, Mooney issued a reminder that the deadline for the Annual Town Meeting Warrant is Tuesday, March 14. That includes citizens-petition articles that must be stamped by the town clerk.
During Open Comment, Marion resident Barry Gaffey expressed interest in opening land access to the “Kittansett” beach area off Point Road. Hills disagreed, calling the area hazardous. Gaffey is concerned about parking on what he says are private roads in the area.
Under Action Items, the board voted to approve early voting by mail and in person to be conducted May 1-9 (Monday-Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm), designated Police Chief Richard Nighelli the responsibility to assign police detail for the May 12 Town Election, approval of the Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Restriction Agreement for the Marion Town House, three one-day liquor licenses for the Marion Social Club (Clam Boil on March 26 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Chicken Bake on April 23 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Italian Dinner on May 21 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm and finally approval of a Water/Sewer commitment of $496.48 (final readings February 3.)
New Town Administrator Geoff Gorman will attend the next meeting of the Marion Select Board on Tuesday, March 7, at 6:00 pm.
Marion Select Board
By Mick Colageo