Committee Report to Town Meeting May 2016

 

Report to Town Meeting, May 2016

The Police Facility Building Committee was appointed by the Town Administrator to assist the administrator on the investigation, research, and consideration of siting and construction of a modern police headquarters facility to serve the law enforcement and dispatching needs of the community for the foreseeable future.

The committee consists of the following appointed members; Stanley Andrews, Donald Ellis, William Meier, Charles K Noyes, John E. O’Brien, John Redman, Richard F. White, Town Administrator Thomas Guerino, Facilities Director Jonathan Nelson, and Police Chief Dennis Woodside.

Committee members have examined the current police station, constructed in 1958 and with a second floor added in 1979.  Based upon information provided by the Police Chief and his staff, along with committee member’s personal inspections, and the recommendations put forth in the 2009 Cecil Group Municipal Facilities Plan, the communities need for a new police facility is pressing.  The building has long outlived its design and capacity, its mechanical systems are no longer effective and safe, and the layout does not serve the community needs.

Since our appointments last summer, we have held numerous meetings, all posted as required, during which we established two sub committees.  One sub-committee addressed the review of potential sites to build the new facility, and another sub-committee to select a firm to evaluate the current police facility and the development of conceptual designs for a new facility.

The designer selection sub-committee issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) through the Massachusetts bidding process for design and engineering consulting firms to submit proposals for the “Planning, Feasibility, Design, & Construction Administration Services For A New Police Facility”.  Ten (10) firms submitted their qualifications for review, of which four firms were invited to make presentations before the full committee.  This process resulted in the selection of, and awarding of a contract for design services to Kaestle Boos Associates, Inc. of Foxborough, Ma.

The site selection sub-committee identified fifteen (15) potential sites and reviewed the pros and cons for each.  Of primary importance was use of available town owned property and accessibility to the community.  The committee has identified three (3) sites that will meet the needs of the police department and the community.  The sites are town owned land adjacent to Queen Sewell Park and the National Guard Armory, the ballfield behind the Bourne Library off of Perry Avenue south, and the ballfield adjacent to the old Coady School on Cotuit Road.  These sites have been provided to the selected design firm for evaluation.  The design firm is currently gathering information on required space needs for our current police staffing as well as future growth.

The committee’s next step is to review the information and conceptual plans developed by the design firm.  Like all capital projects, you the voters will decide on the future of your police department and our community.

 

Charles K Noyes

Chairperson