Projected Cost of Pool Improvements Still Exceeds Budgeted Amount

A second round of bidding has again put the price tag for proposed improvements at Mills Pond Pool over the amount approved by the town last year. 

In the fall of 2012, town voters approved a plan to take $400,000 out of reserves to fund improvements, including new decking, pool shell repairs, and new and safer above-ground mechanicals at the facility. 

In July, however, bids on the proposed work cam back significantly higher, according to a memo from Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner. 

The project was modified but a second round of bidding has come in with projected costs still exceeding $400,000, according to the memo. 

With architectural fees of $41,000, the town has about $359,000, according to the memo. In total, the new low bid is for $450,900, leaving the town about $91,900 short and without any "contingency" funding. There had been approximately $15,000 in capital funding to help pay for engineering but most of that was used for a pool enclosure study, Skinner added in the memo. 

Canton's consultant on the project, TLB Architecture of Chester, has recommended the town accept a "base bid" from Construction Services of New England that would cover the updated mechanicals, an above ground building to house them and related work. TLB also recommends the town then seek additional funding for the decking. 

The Board of Selectmen will discuss the issue at its Wednesday meeting. Representatives from TLB will also attend. For more details and other topics of discussion, see the agenda packet at http://townofcantonct.org/filestorage/6662/7004/7012/15416/10.23.13_BOS_Packet.pdf

On Wednesday, selectmen will also discuss the 2014 round of Small Town Economic Assistance Program grants, under which towns can receive up to $500,000 in funding for capital projects. First Selectman Richard Barlow said the town has learned that the projects should be "shovel ready."

Barlow said the Lawton Road Park plan and Mills Pond Park Complex improvements are two possibilities for which the town could seek funding. A Mills Pond project could include improvements such as tennis and basketball court resurfacing, a revamped skate park and a new pool house, he said. 

While some have advocated the need for more fields others have suggested the town first improve what it has. 

"I think there's benefits to both," Barlow said, adding that other possibilities might also come up during the discussion.