Back to Capital Outlay Committee Minutes
1/19/2011 at Town Office Building
Attending: Chairman Ray Eisenbies, Libby Claypoole, Lucy Hancock, Ron Kirven and Tom Pyles (both representing the Advisory Committee), Sue Nickerson (Interim Town Accountant)
Ray Eisenbies called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the 3rd floor East Hearing Room.
Hingham Public Library
Director Dennis Corcoran presented the five-year capital plan for the Hingham Public Library. For FY 2012, he is requesting $20K for replacement of computers and $120.8K for replacement of two heating system boilers. The first item continues the annual replacement schedule of personal computers and peripherals. Dennis wants to try the thin client idea at the library. This should make IT maintenance easier. The boilers have been in use since 1965 and are working and well maintained but are well beyond their useful life. Dennis proposes replacement with two more efficient and compact boilers. This will save on fuel costs, reduce pollution, and re-gain space in the boiler room. Removal of existing boilers and minor asbestos abatement is included in the cost estimate. Dennis would like to hire appropriate engineering support to manage this project, and this may or may not require additional funding. COC members asked whether the boilers could be financed over two years. They also suggested that someone look across departments and determine who else needs new boilers, with the idea that engineering costs might be shared.
Note: The 2010 SourceOne study did not support co-generation at any of the three buildings in town (including the library) that were identified as possible sites.
For FY 2013, Dennis is proposing replacement of the lobby / café tile at a cost of $20K and additional computer replacement at a cost of $20K. FY 2014 includes another $20K for computer replacement and $353K for phase 2 of roof replacement for the original library building. FY 2015 includes $20K for computer replacement, $25K for exterior painting and re-glazing, and $90K for RFID conversion (Phase 1). RFID is Radio Frequency Identification. FY 2016 includes $20K for computer replacement and $100K for RFID conversion (Phase 2). The RFID conversion is a placeholder for now and is not urgent. FY 2017 includes computer replacement ($20K), painting ($15K), HVAC work ($50K), and window replacement ($100K).
Town Hall
Assistant Town Administrator Betty Foley presented the five-year capital plan for the Town Hall. In each of the next five years, $20K is earmarked for general renovations and repairs. The big item for 2012 is repair, re-pointing, and waterproofing the brick of the entire back (east) wall of the building at a cost of $74K. COC members inquired as to whether the contractor hired to work on the Town Hall brick repair could also do the re-pointing of the bricks at the Lincoln School Apartments. Additional items for 2014 are carpeting and painting at a cost of $20K. An additional item for 2016 is replacement of the auditorium seats for $95K, but this is only a placeholder right now. Betty noted that if the $20K for general repairs is not appropriated in any one year, then Town Hall management will ask for a reserve fund transfer (as was done in 2011).
Department of Public Works
Director Randy Sylvester and Maintenance Supervisor Manny DaSilva presented the FY 2012 capital requests for the Department of Public Works. Randy also provided an update on the three approved items for FY 2011. The Lewis Court water main installation will cost approximately what was budgeted ($87K) and will be completed in early spring 2011. The ¾ ton truck with plow was purchased in July 2010 and is currently in service. The new catch basin cleaning truck was acquired in December 2010 and replaced the old catch basin cleaner that was totaled while sanding during a storm last winter. The provider of the new truck did not take the old truck in trade but did take the boom and the catch basin cleaning attachment. Randy would like to put some money into the old truck in order to use it for sanding. He has asked permission to use up to $10K from the operating budget to get the old truck up and running. This will allow the DPW to avoid using the new truck for sanding.
FY 2012 vehicle requests are as follow (in priority order):
• Road Sweeper (vehicle #23)
• ¾ Ton Pickup with Plow (vehicle #34)
• ¾ Ton Pickup with Plow (vehicle #37)
• Multi-Purpose Tractor (vehicle #39)
• Dump Truck with Plow and Sander (vehicle #8)
• 4-Wheel Drive Pickup Truck (vehicle #38)
• Dump Truck with Sander (vehicle #11)
The first three vehicles are "must have" items. The last four items are important but not critical. Vehicle #23 has high repair costs (about $52K so far plus $41K more needed for repairs). The cost of a new sweeper is $158K. Vehicle #34 has to be replaced or repaired, as it will not pass inspection. Vehicle #37 is in okay condition and will be used to replace the Bare Cove Park truck. Total repair cost for each truck is between $12K and $13K. The cost of each new truck is $32K. Vehicle #39 is a 2003 Holder tractor that is currently out of service. It needs $4.9K in repairs, and the necessary parts are not available. Replacement cost is about $139K.
The DPW goal is to upgrade all pickups to one-ton trucks in the next few years. The cost for each new one-ton truck with plow and sander is $55K.
Randy will redo the FY 2012 vehicle schedule and narrative and give the document to Sue for distribution to COC members. In addition, Randy and Manny will update and reformat the entire vehicle replacement schedule.
Other items for FY 2012 include the infield rehabilitation ($10K) that was removed from the FY 2011 capital budget and one open-top trailer plus trailer tires and undercarriage repair ($60K) for the transfer station. The estimated net cost of the landfill capping in FY 2012 is $250K. An evaluation by the DEP is necessary before the project can proceed. (PCBs have been discovered in the nearby wetlands.) Roger Fernandes (DPW Engineer) will visit the COC later in January to discuss the landfill capping and roadway construction.
Randy noted that the scale at the transfer station is working out well and will pay for itself in the prescribed amount of time. It is used, among other things, to weigh all recyclables before they are sent out to the vendor.
Other Business
COC members approved the minutes from the 1/5/2011 meeting with minor changes.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucy Hancock, Secretary