HANSON – The library building project’s design selection procedures were approved, 4-1 at the Select Board’s meeting on Tuesday, June 24. Select Board member Joe Weeks was absent.
“The library is moving into the second phase of their grant,” Town Administrator Lisa Green said in recommending adoption of the procedures, which are also used by the state in guiding building project design procurement, she noted..
“[The Library Building Committee] had secured and hired a project manager and they’re now moving into the design selection process.”
The model design procedures for municipalities outlines that schedule and how that needs to be followed for designer services. As the approving body, the Select Board may delegate any person qualified to conduct a request for qualifications to do that, according to Green.
“It outlines the advertising requirement,” she said. It outlines basically what the rating would be for each bid submission. It outlines that, if the fee is going to be set, that fee has to be noted in the advertisement and the documents for the RFQ. If it’s going to be negotiated, then it needs to state that … or that the fee cannot exceed a certain amount, it outlines that information.”
The procedure also allows a designer to conduct a feasibility study to assign projects.
“It expands on the scope of work of the designer,” Green said. “If they feel a feasibility study is needed, it allows them to do that.”
Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if Greed had reviewed the provisions of the process and if she was comfortable with it.
“I am comfortable with it, yes,” Green said.
“May I ask you another question,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It seems to me that this has been broadly constructed, so that it would apply to more than just the library, because it does not specify that it only applies to the library.”
“No, it does not apply to only a library,” Green replied. “There is a form – a standard designer application form – for municipalities and public agencies. This can basically be used by any municipality or public agency for a building type of project.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if it could be used, “for instance, it we were to pursue the highway building…”
“We would follow the same procedure, yes,” Green said.
“A lot of this seems very common-sense to me,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It’s making sure there’s no conflicts, making sure you’ve got three finalists.”
Select Board member Ed Heal asked if Green’s recommendation followed state procedures verbatim and Green said that was exactly the case.
FitzGerald-Kemmett said the town may have followed it in the past, but it was never adopted as a formal policy.
“You know how I feel about following what the state wants us to do,” said Vice Chair Ann Rein.
“I know, you love it,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said with a laugh. “You love it and you cherish it.”
The board’s vote to adopt the procedure was unanimous.