Franklin Matters: Police Station Building Comte gets project overview from OPM Joe Sullivan (video)

Friday, November 1, 2024

Police Station Building Comte gets project overview from OPM Joe Sullivan (video)

The Police Station Building Committee (PSBC) met on Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024 as scheduled. All 10 members were present. This is the start of the real work on the station. The Owner Project Manager (OPM), Joseph (Joe) Sullivan is in place and leading the effort per Mass General Law for projects of this size.

Quick recap:

Committee voted to approve minutes of 3 prior meetings (1 as amended to correct attendance status of one person)
Joe provided an overview of the project steps
7 architects submitted to the RFQ from which 3 firms were selected for interviews at the next meeting Nov 14 (a long session, 30min presentations, 15 Q&A, 15 mins briefing between sessions, and then after the scoring, it will take 2-3 weeks to settle the contract. Once contracted, then evaluation begins, what today's needs are, and then layer in flexibility for future requirements
Site selection will be a key component, usually requires 4-6 acres to allow for security and proper public access, includes traffic studies to determine proper fit
Conceptual design, lay the building on the site to see how it works
Committee vote on key steps along the way, no Taj Mahal, just what you need Min of 3 cost estimates
Preliminary budget after conceptual design, let committee feel comfortable with the design and the associated costs. Design contingency is used for those next level details beyond the overall building structure costs, i.e. sprinkler, technology, outfitting the building, etc.
Construction contingency, listen to the recording to the story about the fill from 495 moved for the high school
Final costs not really available until the 90% design completion point. Furniture, fixtures, access control, evidence storage, (cover via Mass guidelines), record storage, cells for detained individuals, more holding cells than lengthy stays, technology to operate, etc.
Public forums will be an important part of the whole process, they need to be part of the solution. Everyone opinion matters. Need to do them regularly, likely 4-5 before done. Abutters meeting once the site location is narrowed or identified
Discussion on space requirements, will bring examples for next meeting to help explain the Boston city stations vs what we are needing, also space for training. Training room could also be used for community access Middleboro example mentioned. Training may also be a small revenue source for the Town, could become a mini center for the area on training
Video of walk thru of the existing station desired
Construction likely about 16-18 months, some will be asking 20-24, based upon size and quality of building will determine with the architect the time line Strongly suggest to start going after furniture to confirm pricing, etc. at 50% completed, start ordering the furniture or wait until 80%
Commission agent, acts as a quality control over install and quality of materials as specified. Once we bid, after funding, 18-20 months, 2 months for punch list with dept in the facility to check it out, live it, resolve items before the construction force leaves the site
Warranty cut sheet for dept, kept in a log what it is, who's responsible, who completes, and when. Mechanical equipment if not clear warranty is when it fired up, not when after the building is completed so could lose time on that
Discussion on liquidated damages, need to prove in MA, it does cost something, contractors will price accordingly
Track critical path to avoid damage issues. Pay req, monthly task, update on critical path at that point each time
Assuming architect contract by end of year, next meeting with them is in January Wishes, wants and needs, start thinking about. Need a schedule of design, need to hit those milestones. Use that as a tool of differentiation among the candidates