The Marion Board of Selectmen reviewed a report detailing the estimated costs of three different options for Marion regionalizing with Wareham, Bourne, Plymouth, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for sewer services on November 20,
According to Town Administrator Paul Dawson, the study completed by GHD looked at three options: A. connect to the 21-inch interceptor on Burr Parkway in Wareham, B. connect to the Narrows Pumping Station, and a third option, C, that Dawson said the Town had asked GHD to look at – a direct connection to the Wareham Pollution Control facility.
And thank goodness they did ask to include that third option, Dawson said.
“It turns out it worked out to be the most fiscally, financially feasible operation,” said Dawson. “That’s the one that can probably be done the least expensively,” although when he said “least expensively,” Dawson called it rather “tongue in cheek” because, he continued, “There’s nothing inexpensive about it.”
That preliminary cost is $22.6 million.
Dawson said he would be posting the entire report to the Town website the following day, but in summary, the report reads: “Option C is the most financially feasible option. … The preferred proposed force main route … carries an estimated construction cost of $14.5M in 2018 dollars. Including an allowance for a 20% contingency and 30% for fiscal, legal, and engineering, the total estimated project cost comes to approximately $22.6M, in 2018 dollars.”
But, just that very afternoon, Dawson added, GHD sent him an email inviting him to a December meeting to discuss the options again, as one of the others – A or B – might ultimately wind up as the more “financially feasible” option after all.
“So this may not be the final report,” said Dawson, “so stay tuned.”
Also during the meeting, the board approved a request to purchase and install movable partitions at the Community Center. Frank McNamee, Bob Raymond, Recreation Department Director Jody Dickerson, and COA Director Karen Gregory presented the proposal to the selectmen, saying the project would be funded by a $50,000 donation from the now disbanded Friends of Marion Visiting Nurse Association.
The folding, soundproof walls would allow various programs to run simultaneously for both the Senior Center and the Recreation Department.
In other matters, the selectmen appointed Police Chief John Garcia’s pick for special police officer, Peter Bourgault. The board also appointed Sean Day as a permanent full-time police officer.
The board approved the installation of an elevation benchmark on Town property at the northeast corner of Hammett’s Cove for a study project.
Representatives from CDM Smith met with the selectmen to provide an overview and project update on current wastewater and stormwater projects, collection systems projects, and transportation projects.
The board continued the reclassification hearing with the Board of Assessors until December 4 at 11:30 am.
There will be a special meeting of the Board of Selectmen on November 28 at 9:30 am to discuss the imminent hiring of a new town administrator, DPW director, and treasurer/collector. The location will be determined at a later time and duly posted.
The next regular meeting of the Marion Board of Selectmen has been scheduled for December 4 at 11:30 am at the Marion Town House, since the selectmen’s Christmas party will be taking place that evening.
Marion Board of Selectmen
By Jean Perry