Great Hill Water Tower Costs Increase

It is still well within the original budget for the project, but on November 18 the Marion Board of Selectmen approved an amendment to the Great Hill water tower construction agreement, increasing the cost by $11,500 to pay for unforeseen engineering costs. The project total increased from $93,000 to $104,500.

Citing complications with easements, land swaps, and construction logistics, Town Administrator Paul Dawson said that after a number of re-draws and tweaks to the plans, the engineering costs went up higher than he had hoped.

Should the Town expect any further kinks in the process, Selectman Stephen Cushing asked Dawson.

“I don’t see any on the horizon,” stated Dawson. “This has been a very successful project.”

The Town will advertise for bids just prior to Christmas, said Dawson, and bidding will begin in mid-January. Construction should begin in late March and be completed in August.

In other matters, the board approved a contract for the Marion Music Hall roof replacement project awarded to Celcore, Inc., of New Bedford in the amount of $46,600. The 50-year shingles will be installed beginning, weather permitting, just after the holidays.

The board voted to ratify the membership list of the Marion Cultural Council as indicated by the State’s membership list, which was slightly different than the Town’s list.

The Cultural Council’s function is to recommend which local organizations should receive grant monies from the State for cultural activities and cultural events.

In a 2-0 vote, with Chairman Jon Henry abstaining, the board voted to deny a water abatement in the amount of $154.60 for the sewer portion of a water bill at 120 Bullivant Farm Road. The board had continued the water abatement action during its last meeting in order to gather more information.

Dawson, along with the Marion Water & Sewer Division, recommended denying the request due to the consumer’s “conscious and deliberate use of the water,” despite suspecting a leak in their swimming pool.

Henry resisted denying the abatement, but Dawson warned the board that approving the abatement would set a precedent for granting abatements under similar circumstances.

Selectmen approved the relocation of a telephone pole jointly owned by Verizon and NSTAR after-the-fact, which was already moved prior to the meeting. The pole required relocation in order to accommodate the handicap access to the new sidewalks being constructed in the South Street and Pleasant Street area.

A public hearing for the Board of Assessors Classification Hearing was continued until December 9, the next scheduled meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen, beginning at 7:00 pm at the Marion Town House.

By Jean Perry

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