The Plympton Public Safety Building Committee met on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Daniel Pallota from P-3 in Norwell, met with the committee to discuss a new blueprint for the police station.
The plan presented was for a 6,475 square foot building with a 1,825 sq. ft. basement. However, the committee seems to be dropping the idea for a basement entirely. To put it in perspective, the current police station is about 2,000 square feet.
As far as material goes, Palotta and the committee talked about how the station might be suited for panelized construction. According to Palotta, the panels are made in New Bedford with workers making $11 per hour. This would save the town money if they were to do this as opposed to a stick-built building that would require a carpenter.
Palotta also indicated that this is a pretty typical way to go about construction in other parts of the country. He says, “Down South (anywhere below New Jersey), virtually all town houses are panelized.
Board member Nancy Butler asked Palotta if the panels are still customizable. Daniel Pallotta said that they are customizable.
This however did not rule out stick built as the specifications and uniqueness of a police station may still make stick built, the more practical option. One thing that did seem to be agreed upon the initial $2 million estimate was never a realistic number.
Palotta reiterated that and though cost is still an issue, Palotta says he thinks he can get the cost of the police station much closer to their original estimate. This was one of the reasons the basement is becoming less likely.
Daniel Palotta also mentioned that the town of Dighton had to go back to town meeting to get an additional $2 million in funds. Cost don’t look like they’ll increase by that large an amount.
Selectwoman, Chair and Public Safety Building Committee Chair Colleen Thompson voiced pleasure with the progress the committee made at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on January 30, 2017. She says, “I believe we’re moving along well.”
Selectwoman Thompson also said that Police Chief Patrick Dillon went out to visit the police station in Hampden, Massachusetts. At the last meeting on Jan. 4, Chief Dillon said, “Hampden, MA dropped three different mod plans and came in budget with a non-mod.
Colleen Thompson mentioned this and said that Hamden paid $3 million for their non-modular building. The Hampden Police station is 7,000 square feet.
The Public Safety Building Committee is working to get the estimated figure for Plympton’s police station. Nancy Butler says, “We need to have the figures by the end of March.”
Daniel Palotta also wanted to meet with Selectmen Clerk John Traynor to run through some of the numbers.
Another issue the committee is still addressing is exact location. Nancy Butler says, “If we’re moving the police station closer to the town hall, what’s happening with parking?” The parking lot already has some issues with car accidents especially with the baseball field in the spring.
The next meeting for the Public Building Safety Committee will take place on Wednesday, February 8, 2017.